PM’S chief of staff arrested over Malta murder

Joseph Muscat accused of having blood on his hands as inquiry into journalist’s death takes another twist

THE former chief of staff of Malta’s government was arrested over the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia yesterday, as suspects reportedly began pointing the finger at each other and opposition MPS renewed calls for the prime minister to resign. Opposition politicians walked out of parliament in Valletta, saying the Labour government of Joseph Muscat had lost all legitimacy.

They accused Mr Muscat of trying to shield Keith Schembri, his chief of staff, until his resignation on Tuesday.

Mr Schembri resigned after he was reportedly named as a “person of interest” in the investigation by Yorgen Fenech, a multi-millionaire businessman who was arrested last week as he tried to leave Malta on his luxury yacht. Both have denied any wrongdoing.

Adrian Delia, the leader of the opposition Nationalist Party, said his MPS would no longer engage with a “government that has lost its legitimacy”.

Maltese police have not said why Mr Schembri is under arrest or whether he is a suspect in the murder.

It is not just inside parliament that the pressure is building on the prime minister. Outside, protesters have shouted “mafia” and “murderers” at the prime minister and his ministers, with some throwing eggs, coins and fake bank notes.

In a biting editorial, the Malta Today newspaper said it was time for the prime minister to go: “Murder – political murder – is hanging on the Muscat administration. His administration has been shorn of the moral force that a prime minister needs to keep on governing. The stage is set for Muscat’s exit.”

But the premier refused to countenance resigning.

As the investigation deepened, the Maltese press reported that Mr Fenech’s doctor had also been arrested, accused of passing messages from Mr Schembri to Mr Fenech, imploring the tycoon to keep quiet. Mr Schembri may even have tipped off Mr Fenech to his imminent arrest, prompting his failed attempt to leave Malta, press reported.

Caruana Galizia, 53, whose well-read blog dished the dirt on politicians of all stripes, was killed by a car bomb two years ago.

Three men are due to go on trial, accused of detonating the bomb, but they are believed by investigators to have been acting under orders.

Melvin Theuma, an alleged middleman, has been granted an official pardon in return for information, and Mr

Fenech has also reportedly requested a pardon.

It is the prime minister’s job to decide whether to recommend to the president that pardons be granted.

Mr Schembri was one of three senior figures to step down on Tuesday. The others, Konrad Mizzi, the tourism minister, and Chris Cardona, the economy minister, have denied any involvement in Caruana Galizia’s death.

Jason Azzopardi, an opposition MP, accused the prime minister of having blood on his hands by “defending Schembri for two years”.