Malta officials resign in broadening scandal over journalist’s murder
VALLETTA, (Reuters) - A top aide to Malta’s prime minister resigned yesterday and was questioned by police investigating the murder of a prominent journalist, while two government ministers also stood aside in a widening scandal rocking the European Union’s smallest state.
Prime Minister Joseph Muscat told reporters his chief of staff, Keith Schembri, had quit as police stepped up their investigation into the 2017 killing of Daphne Caruana Galizia, an investigative reporter who repeatedly denounced corruption at the highest levels of government.
Tourism Minister Konrad Mizzi also announced his resignation and Economy Minister Christian Cardona said he was suspending himself from his duties until the murder investigation was concluded.
Both Mizzi and Cardona denied any involvement in the death of Caruana Galizia, who was blown up by a car bomb.
Police searched Schembri’s house during the day, sources said, but gave no further details. Neither Schembri nor his lawyer were immediately available for comment.
Schembri and Mizzi had been facing pressure to resign from opposition politicians and Caruana Galizia’s family because of their purported financial ties to businessman
Yorgen Fenech, who was detained last week as a person of interest.
Cardona was briefly questioned by police on Saturday.
The suspected middleman in the murder, Melvin Theuma, was granted a presidential pardon on Monday in return for evidence that could be used in court. Media on the Mediterranean island reported that he had handed over audio recordings.
“What is happening now, and what happened last week is an operation that is hopefully solving the Daphne Caruana Galizia murder,” Muscat told Reuters on Tuesday. “Whatever people might say, there is no impunity in this country.”
Muscat is a close friend of Schembri and had repeatedly rejected calls to sack him when allegations of corruption surfaced several years ago. Schembri denied wrongdoing.
Police had planned to charge Fenech on Tuesday on murder charges before a magistrate.