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Updated | MIA to probe leaked departure of Chinese billionaire
Government representatives protest with Malta International Airport after Chinese billionaire finds Maltese journalists waiting for him.
20 January 2014, 12:00am
Staff Reporter
Staff Reporter
2 min read
An unnamed Chinese billionaire who visited Malta this afternoon found journalists waiting for him at the Malta International Airport, prompting an internal investigation by the MIA.
The billionaire, who according to the PN's TV station NET TV is interested in purchasing a Maltese passport, came to Malta on his private jet.
But as he was walking in through the airport to leave for Paris, he found a camera and a journalist waiting for him. It is believed the media had been advised of his arrival at the airport by a senior MIA official. Present with the PN media was PN president of the administrative council Karol Aquilina.
The unexpected presence of the media led senior government officials to protest with MIA over the leak. MIA's chief executive officer is expected to hold an internal inquiry after the government's complaint was filed.
It is believed the billionaire owns a successful independent financial intermediary company in China.
The footage of the Chinese's arrival featured on NET TV. According to a maltarightnow report, the Chinese billionaire "panicked" when he saw the cameras and an Italian who accompanied the man attempted to stop them from filming. It was also alleged that the Italian tried to buy the footage in order to convince them not to air it.
NET TV also reported that the group received "preferential treatment" after they were allowed to pass through the crew gates.
Malta International Airport said it was taking these claims very seriously and that under no circumstances would MIA employees be aware of these passengers' details, whether travelling on a private, commercial or any other aircraft using our facilities.
"The only information Malta International Airport employees are privy to are aircraft type, country of origin, destination, arrival and departure times, number of passengers and handling agent.
"Reports stating that the group received preferential treatment are incorrect since the group gained access to their aircraft as per usual procedures, accompanied by their Handling Agent respecting passenger and cabin security regulations," a spokesperson for MIA said.
Journalists were not given access to any areas where filming is restricted. All filming was performed in public areas, which are also non-security restricted areas of the airport.
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Dan Karol Aquilina ahdar aktar min simon busullotti (aka guda). nispera li dan il persuna jifthilhom kawza lil Net Tv halli jkomli jgibhom aktar globu dawn il qatta falluti.
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Qed naqra dawn l comments u Vera qed niskopri kemm ghad hawn nies ghadhom fi sniin l hamsinijiet Jew qadt ma hargu mi dar Jew nkella ghadhom b istess teknika ta qabel l elezjoni jipruvaw jitfawlek felus f mohh dak l persuna li ma jifimx. Ghaziz @tweetybirdie l biljunarju ciniz li kien Malta ma kellu l ebda preferenzi biex johrog ghal ajruplan ghax ghal informazjoni tijak min ikollu jet privat jista jibqa hireg dritt u jmur bil kwiet Lejn destinazjoni tijaw u mhux joqod jistena wara nies bhal ma Jamel kull cittadin li ma jafordjax jet plan..,.,tibqawx titfaw Dawk l battuti bla sens u laqwa li minalijkom hamigtu l gvern, ghax kiku tafu kemm qed taqaw redikoli u ta hmijr bil karrotta fuq raskom.
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Aaron Farrugia
Bongu. Ebda biki u tisbit tas-saqajn fil-parlament, ebda kummidjanti jgerrxu l investituri mal-wassla taghhom fl-ajruport, ebda tharbix fuq blogs u mercenarji li jahdmu kontra isem pajjizna m'huma se jwaqqfuna. Ahna l moviment li l-poplu ghazel biex imexxieh u ftit snin ohra nergghu immorru quddiemu bir-rizultati li nkunu gibna. Haddiehor dakinhar ukoll irid jaghmel il-kontijiet mal-elettorat. #ilpoplumhuxsejinsa
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Joseph haseb li kullhadd bhalu jahasra. Dawn nies li jekk ma jmxxux huma ha jibqaw jaghmlu hsara. Dawn ma jridux second type of leadership. dawn jew immexxu huma inkella jkisru. illum nifem ghalfejn kien ikun ghawn l-inkwiet fi zmien is sebajniejit.
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KIEKU JIEN IC-CINIZ INHARREK LIL NET TV GHAL KSUR TAL- PRIVELLEG U DATA PROTECTION.WHAT A SHAME ON NET TV THEY CANNOT JUST GO AND FILM AND HARASS WHOM THEY LIKE .IF I WAS THIS CHINESE BUSINESS MAN I WOULD SUE THEM FOR HARASSMENT AND DATA PROTECTION RIGHTS.
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X'mar jghamel hemm Carol Aquilina? M'ghandux jaqaw x'jghamel f'Tal-Pieta`? Ara veru l-politika gennithom lin-Nazzjonalisti minn mindu hadu t-tkaxxkira papali.
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Mela qatt ma ra camera tat TV dal biljunarju? Ghala ppanikja? mela ghandu x'jahbi?
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how low can the PN go
Igor P. Shuvalov •
This simply shows that the Opposition has vowed that there are no bounds to the tactics they use to try to stop the citizenship scheme. It proves that for them this is a do or die matter.
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In China there are over 100 Billionaires,all they want is to live in piece.Shame on PN.
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Mill-amministrazzjoni tal-PN ma tistenniex ahjar. Dejjem hekk kienu u hekk se jibqghu. Jew ingawdi jien biss jew inhassar. Kelb taqtalu denbu kelb jibqa'.
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This is basically "Public low level stooping". The PN needs one big clean up.I am shocked. The PN should be ashmed of itself.
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this is what happens when certain key organizations are still run by blue eyed officials!when is this govt going to listen to its genuine supporters and give them merit!
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Why the secrecy and odd reaction to the press if it is all legitimate? Offering money to the press to keep quiet,what kind of skullduggery is going on?
Priscilla Darmenia •
This is a case in point why I am not against the government replacing heads of government departments of PN sympathy with loyal PL sympathisers. -
Look what happened here, a leak from a senior officer for the benefit of the PN party not for the benefit of the country. -
If this officer is caught, I bet they will find he is a PN sympathiser.
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So this Chinese man goes through the 'Crew Gate' eh? Now you know that you will be treated as second class citizens in your own country once this scheme is operating!!!
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Prosit Jonas! Dak l-izball li qed jaghmel dan il-gvern! Kompla halla lill min hlief bsaten fir-roti ma jafx jaghmel. Tahom ic-cans li jkomplu jahdmu imma issa daqshekk. Mhumiex nies!
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The Airport should be nationalized again if the MIA owners are not professionals! In Vienna Airport- owned by the same shareholders- these undermining schemes, as shown today- are not resorted to! Either the manager who leaked this private information be fired or the CEO should resign.
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X'injoranza.
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This is all Labour's fault - This is simply the thanks for the friendly hand extended by those who transferred Labour supports 24 hours after winning the elections in 1987. The Labour party should learn from them so when they are in opposition they will know exactly how to respond.
Now that good tidings were given at Christmas and New years, they have to make up just for keeping their mouth closed for just 2 days. What bunch of HYPOCRITES!
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Fufa, hodor intom kollha li qed tikkummentaw hawn u li minghalikom se taghlqu halq il-poplu Maltija. Ja qabda totalitajri, tal-misthija.
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Harassment, how low can the opposition get.
Are they afraid?
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MIA must ensure that whoever is responsible is sacked right away and give clear instructions to all that such behaviour is not accepted.
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Haga wahda biss ma naqbilx ma Joseph Muscat, li dan ghadu jahseb li n-Nazzjonalisti se jahdmu id f'id mieghu. Dawn mill ghada tal-elezzjoni bdew jahdmu kif se jfixklu l-gvern. Waqt il-haddiema laburisti haduha vakanza biex hargu jiccelebraw, fid-dipartimenti kollha tal-Gvern u entitajiet, huma kienu qed jiltaqghu biex jidbdew jahdmu il-pjanijiet taghhom biex jaghmlu l-bsaten fir-roti.
Issa ghandek prova cara kemm dawn in-nies lesti jghamlu minn kollox biex jghamlu l-bsaten fir-roti. Il-postijiet sensittivi u managerial positions ghandhom ikunu f'idejn nies li jippromovu l-politika tal-Gvern tal-Gurnata u mhux jobdu biss ordnijiet li johorgu mill-partit taghhom. Sur Prim Ministru, Jekk mhux se tibda tnaddaf is-sriep minn mas-saqajn, se jkollok idduq il-velenu taghhom kif diga qed naraw.
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They are simply trying to harass investors and those responsible must be made to pay for their undermining.
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All very shady and secretive....as expected. And this is just the beginning,
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Dawn tan-NET x'zibel u min infurmhom ZIBEL AKBAR MINN DAK LI MA JIRRICIKLAX RUHU li jghamlu dan il harassment fuq min juri interess li jinvesti fil-pajjiz ?
DAWN ZIBEL! Ma jixraqilhomx jissehju mod iehor!
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Just to show to what debts the PN sinks into! Karol Aquilina of all people full of spite and hatred for all that is labour! It would be interesting to know who phoned whom from MIA, this is very very serious! The airport was sold for a pittance and run by pro PN lackeys! Who was the senior MIA official? Is this acceptable in a seriously run company?
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When is this administration going to clean sweep all sensitive offices and areas from those whose only interest is to embarrass the Government and project it in a bad light around the globe? These people do not believe that "tista ma taqbilx magħna imma tista taħdem magħna".
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Hodor.
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Din Malta taghna lkoll jew Malta tal-misthijja ??!!
