3City Design received thousands of euros from Adrian Hillman, Keith Schembri, court hears

3City Design Limited, a company belonging to the wife of former OPM Chief of Staff Keith Schembri, saw thousands of euro transferred through it from Adrian Hillman, Allied Newspapers, and Schembri himself.

During the compilation of evidence against Josette Vella Schembri, Inspector Leanne Bonello said yesterday that Vella Schembri’s company formed part of a complex scheme used to transfer sums of cash between various entities.

She noted that 3City Design was set up in 2008, the same year in which the first Kasco-Allied printing press deal was first drafted.

Bonello said that Adrian Hillman transferred €14,000 to the 3City Design. Vella Schembri had told police that she had provided interior design services in his home, but failed to provide any documentation as proof.

Additionally, her husband Keith Schembri transferred €57,784.16 across three transactions to the company, but again no documentation was provided.

Eventually, Kasco business partners Robert Zammit and Malcolm Scerri received money payments from 3City Design. In total, Scerri received €44,289.75 through monthly payments. Vella Schembri had told police that the payment covered works done by Scerri for the company, but she was unable to provide documentation in relation to this.

Substantial sums of money were also received from Allied Newspapers. Vella Schembri managed to present documentation for the transaction, but police noted significant discrepancies between the two.

Vella Schembri stands accused of laundering money between 2008 and 2020 while failing to observe all of the duties of a company director.

She is married to the former Muscat administration’s Chief of Staff, Keith Schembri, who is himself accused of money laundering in separate proceedings. Edward Gatt, Veronique Dalli and Mark Vassallo are defence counsel to Vella Schembri.