What the Sunday papers say…

MaltaToday reveals that no police investigation was formally launched into the debts allegedly incurred by Ryan Schembri – a 36-year-old meat importers who is said to absconded from Malta after allegedly amassing €40 million to businessmen and loan sharks. In another story, the newspaper reports that the March 2015 deadline for the building of the new power station will be missed, but business will still get their power tariff reduction.

On the back page the newspaper reports that MFA president Norman Darmanin Demajo insisted n court that Peter Fenech – the former MFA deputy president – was morally obliged to investigate MFA funds allegations in 2008.

Sunday newspaper Illum reveals that Franco Mercieca, the former parliamentary secretary, would like to return to Cabinet and be handed a new portfolio. The former parliamentary secretary for active again and the disabled also said that he was “unhappy and unsatisfied” during his tenure, and that he would “definitely” contest the forthcoming general elections.

In another story, the Sunday newspaper reports that Enemalta has cut its losses by €20 million. In comments to the newspaper Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi is quoted in stating that the reduction in debt would not have been possible had it not been for China’s €300 million investment in the state entity.

The Sunday Times of Malta also reports that the new Delimara gas plant will not be up and running by the target date of March 2015, while in another story, it stated that Air Malta is set to lose €16 million, rather than break even, by the year end.

The Malta Independent on Sunday states that despite MEPA issuing 401 enforcement notices between March 2013 and August 2014. Environmental NGOs have not been impressed.

It-Torca reports that the previous Nationalist government had considered moving parliament to the Auberge de Castille and that the plan had been in the pipeline until it announced the 2009 project of Renzo Piano.

Nationalist organ il-mument reports that a second businessman, Adrian Agius, has absconded from Malta over the alleged €40 million fraud. The newspaper reports that in 2008, Adrian Agius’s father, Raymond, had been shot dead at the Butterfly Bar in Birkirkara.

Kullhadd says Enemalta’s agreement with Chinese state owned Shanghai Electric Power is expected to be concluded by the end of the year.