FIAU warns Casa after MEP publishes leaked report on Konrad Mizzi

● Report raises suspicion over Montenegro wind farm deal

The Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit yesterday said it would demand action against David Casa after the PN MEP published a leaked FIAU report on the EPP website.

The report drew suspicion over a deal between Enemalta and Montenegro regarding a wind park, while also placing Tourism Minister Konrad Mizzi under the spotlight once again.

The report, which the FIAU says was a “work in progress”, had concluded that a reasonable suspicion of money laundering or an attempt to launder proceeds of crime subsisted, adding that the report should be handed over to the police.

The wind power plant in Montenegro commenced in July 2010 between the Government of Montenegro and a Spanish consortium. Once the required building permit was issued in December 2014, the Spanish consortium transferred its shares in the subsidiary company Mozura Wind Park to Enemalta on 2nd February 2015, with open sources citing the reason for the transfer being a failure in talks between the Government of Montenegro and the Spanish Consortium.

The FIAU said this raised suspicion given that the Consortium had been involved in this agreement since 2010 and allegedly was removed/relinquished its interest just when all systems were in place for the works to commence.

Of further suspicion is the fact that the Consortium still commenced construction works on the 15th February despite having transferred its shares to Enemalta plc on 2nd February 2015.

It said that the time in which the UK Company GASOL sold its interests in Electrogas Malta Ltd (22/07/2015) coincides with the time when HEARNVILLE INC. was placed under trust and steps were being taken to open an offshore account/s for Hearnville INC.

Mizzi's presence in Serbia in October 2015 five days prior to the date when Enemalta signed the agreement, was also flagged as suspicious.

So was Mizzi's presence in Montenegro in November 2015, just two days after an agreement was signed between the government of Montenegro and Enemalta in relation to a €1.5 million bank guarantee.

“Of further suspicion is the fact that the only transactions which appear to have been carried out using bank cards during this trip are on Dr. Mizzi's personal credit card and are only for 0.01 euros which means that these were carried out in order to ensure that the card is valid. This therefore raises the question as to why Dr. Mizzi refrained from using his official card during this trip."

The report also dealt with other issues and notes that there is suspicion in that Konrad Mizzi and OPM Chief of Staff Keith Schembri were setting up structures as a joint venture, the suspicion is further substantiated by the fact that the timing of the events indicates that the Panama/New Zealand structures created for Dr Mizzi and Mr Schembri were created simultaneously and both persons were working in tandem. T

This newsroom had also previously reported on the FIAU's findings regarding 17 black. Payments totalling €1.4 million were made into an account held by 17 Black, which was separately one of the target clients for Mizzi and Schembri's Panama companies. the unit said.

Nonetheless, Casa published FIAU information he had illegally obtained, it said, adding that this placed its officials under risk.

The FIAU said the publication of the document prejudices its ability to obtain and exchange intelligence from its international counterparts, undermines the work carried out by the FIAU, and hinders any possible ongoing police investigations.

“The leaking of FIAU information is a criminal act in itself, the perpetrator of which therefore seems to be known to Mr Casa. Mr Casa has therefore not only handled stolen sensitive information but appears to be protecting persons who have carried out criminal acts and is using information which the FIAU has obtained for his own political mileage.

“Mr Casa’s position as an MEP does not place him above the Law and the FIAU will demand that action be taken. The FIAU believes that the publication of the said document exposes Mr Casa as a possible accomplice in the leaking of information from the FIAU in violation of the law and in the handling of stolen property.”