Maria Efimova will not be extradited to Malta

Pilatus Bank whistleblower Maria Efimova was yesterday released from Greek custody after a court rejected two requests by the Maltese authorities to have her extradited to Malta.

Efimova was one of Daphne Caruana Galizia’s sources on Pilatus Bank. She had alleged to the murdered journalist that Michelle Muscat, the prime minister’s wife, was the ultimate beneficial owner of Egrant Inc and that money had allegedly been transferred through Pilatus Bank. Efimova had testified in a magisterial inquiry on the Egrant allegations.

Efimova sued Pilatus Bank over unpaid wages after she was fired. The bank hit back by claiming she had misappropriated €2,000. In another case, she is charged with making false accusations against three police officers.

The Russian fled Malta, claiming she feared for her life. After the European Arrest Warrants were issued, Efimova gave herself up to the police in Athens and was held in custody.

A Greek court ruled on Thursday that the woman would not be extradited, adding that the request was vague and the alleged crime was not serious enough to merit a European Arrest Warrant.

Her lawyer, Alexandros Pa-pastergiopoulous, told MaltaToday that the decision represented a victory for the rule of law.

He said the main reason for the court’s decision were concerns about whether Efimova would be granted a fair trial, as well as concerns relating to her safety if she were to be returned.

Earlier yesterday, the head of the Nationalist Party’s delegation in the European Parliament, MEP David Casa, testified before the Greek court in the whistleblower’s extradition case.

“As a source of Daphne Caruana Galizia, Maria Efimova revealed information about money laundering within Pilatus Bank involving Azerbaijani and Maltese PEPs,” an EPP statement read.

“In his testimony, MEP Casa presented evidence that ties Pilatus Bank to criminal wrongdoing in the Office of the Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat. The court assessed the various reports from Malta’s anti- money laundering agency, the FIAU. David Casa also referred to the FIAU report in his possession, that details the involvement of Konrad Mizzi in criminal activity,” the statement read.

David Casa said: “Konrad Mizzi continues to hold his post, despite the revelations in the Panama Papers. The FIAU report calling for police action was buried by the authorities in Malta. This is clear evidence of the political capture of the institutions. It is testament to the extent of measures that will be taken to protect the criminals in power – the very same people that the information in Maria Efi- mova’s possession incriminates.”

He referred to the recent arrest of Pilatus Bank’s chairman Ali Sadr Hashemi Nejad in the United States, and the relationship between the Iranian and the top officials of the Maltese government.

“As a whistleblower, not only was Maria not protected, but her identity was revealed by the government – this is a clear example of how her safety was endangered. The Maltese government then launched an aggressive, vicious campaign to discredit and vilify her. The masterminds behind Daphne Caruana Galizia’s assassination are still at large. Maria was crucial to Daphne’s work and has been proved right time and time again. She will not be safe until Daphne’s killers are apprehended and brought to justice,” Casa said.

David Casa was asked to testify by Efimova’s legal team.

After the court session, David Casa said: “Maria has my support. Maria has the support of the European Parliament. We have a duty to protect whistleblowers. Maria has exposed wrongdoing at great personal risk. The sordid links of criminality between Pilatus Bank, Konrad Mizzi and Keith Schembri and their associates are clear. They are the ones that should be locked up.”

Prime Minister’s reaction

Speaking to journalists in the afternoon, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat insisted that the ruling had nothing to do with the “lie” about him.

He clarified that the extradition request was made by the courts, independently of the government. He also said this was not the first time that an extradition request had been refused.

He recalled that a few weeks ago there were two cases where a European country rejected extradition to another country.