AD chairman welcomes launch of independent inquiry

Alternattiva Demokratika Chairperson Arnold Cassola has welcomed the launch of an independent inquiry into revelations by MaltaToday that the Maltese police had failed to pursue a money laundering investigation.

Cassola’s comments were made shortly after Prime Minister Joseph Muscat ordered an inquiry after MaltaToday’s investigations revealed that the Maltese police had failed to pursue a money laundering investigation, hindering the Dutch authorities who were investigating suspected drug traffickers. PN Deputy leader Beppe Fenech Adami’s name cropped up as one of the directors of the fiduciary services company that handled the affairs of CapitalOne Investment Group. CapitalOne is connected to a Dutchman whose property was raided in a drug bust.

“Prime Minister Joseph Muscat has done very well to launch an independent investigation into the very serious allegations on the police and [PN deputy leader] Beppe Fenech Adami carried by MaltaToday,” Cassola wrote on his Facebook page.

However, Cassola, a vocal critic of the government’s transparency record and its reaction to the Panama Papers revelations, insisted that the speed by which the inquiry was announced should be extended to all other cases.

“It is extremely worrying that such speed in investigation is often unnoticeable when there are allegations on certain people with Labour affiliations. Justice should be meted out equally to everyone,” Cassola said.

Almost eight months since former energy minister Konrad Mizzi was revealed to own an offshore Panama company and a New Zealand trust, an independent audit into his trust-set up is still work in progress and yet to be completed, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat announced earlier this week.

The government has refused to name the firm, while on Thursday, Minister without portfolio Konrad Mizzi, refused to answer questions relating to his offshore company.