Malta cancels disgraced ex-minister’s lucrative deal

MALTA’S government bowed to pressure last night, cancelling a lucrative contract awarded to a disgraced former minister who resigned in connection with the investigation into the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.

There was deep anger when it was revealed that Konrad Mizzi, who resigned as tourism minister in November, had been given an €80,000 (£68,000) a year job as a consultant by the country’s tourism authority.

The taxpayer-funded contract meant Mr Mizzi was on a higher salary than Malta’s prime minister.

Critics said it was wrong for the exminister to be given such a lucrative job by the ministry he recently headed.

Yesterday evening, the tourism ministry ordered Malta Tourism Authority to immediately terminate the contract.

“I gave instructions to the authority to terminate this contract with immediate effect,” said Julia Farrugia Portelli, the current tourism minister.

The opposition Nationalist Party called for an investigation.

Mr Mizzi quit as tourism minister in November after millionaire businessman Yorgen Fenech was arrested and accused of masterminding the 2017 car bombing of the journalist.

Mr Fenech owned a firm called 17 Black which, according to leaked emails, was due to funnel money to a secret Panama company owned by Mr Mizzi. It is not known if any funds were deposited in Mr Mizzi’s account but at the time of his resignation he insisted he had “no association, directly or indirectly” with Mr Fenech or 17 Black.

The Times of Malta yesterday published the six-page contract that gave Mr Mizzi an annual salary of €80,400 as well as the use of a car and driver.

Campaigners called for a protest outside parliament in Valletta, the capital.