Will Joseph Muscat Face Tough Questions? Here’s A Recap Of The Electrogas PAC Hearings So Far
The Electrogas scandal, with its twisty trail of corruption, has had Malta’s political big shots in the hot seat.
Next up is former Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, due to answer tough questions at this afternoon’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) hearing.
Here’s a quick rundown of what’s happened so far and what we might see unfold.
Paul Apap Bologna, an Electrogas director, attended the PAC hearing back in 2021. Bologna didn’t answer questions about his offshore company, Kittiwake, leading to an uproar among the PAC members.
When Former Minister Edward Scicluna testified in 2022, one of the things he claimed was that he was not involved on a daily basis when it came to decision-making.
Moreover, Scicluna, could not recall whether Cabinet was informed of the LNG Security of Supply agreement which was personally signed by former energy minister Konrad Mizzi in April 2015 and SOCAR Trading – a Swiss subsidiary of Azerbaijan’s government-owned SOCAR.
Former Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi was very difficult to get to appear before the PAC, postponing his appearance many times due to being hospitalised. In the latest hearing, he then refused to answer questions regarding police investigations, claiming that he never spoke to Yorgen Fenech about Electrogas.
He also said that he doesn’t remember any of the conversations he had 10 years ago when the deal was still being signed.
Keith Schembri, the former Chief of Staff, struggled to remember important details during his second PAC hearing on the Electrogas power station deal. Schembri, facing money laundering charges, was unsure about his orders to Nexia BT, an audit firm, regarding an offshore company.
Another hearing was postponed when Schembri refused to answer more questions, leading to the hearing’s adjournment.
He pointed fingers at ex-Finance Minister Edward Scicluna and former police commissioner Silvio Valletta for giving false testimony and filed a case to pause his participation in the PAC.
Meanwhile, the Nationalist Party PAC members requested a perjury investigation, after Schembri alleged that both Scicluna and ex-police commissioner Silvio Valletta lied under oath during the inquiry into Daphne Caruana Galizia’s murder.
Yorgen Fenech, a key suspect in the murder case of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, and former Electrogas director, was the last to appear in front of the PAC – and had his testimony delayed.
Fenech’s lawyers argued that he should wait for his criminal case outcome before testifying, saying that he is currently fighting for his life in Court.
Today, it’s the turn of ex-Prime Minister Muscat to testify in the PAC hearing about the Electrogas deal.
His testimony could give us a deeper understanding of the events leading up to Caruana Galizia’s murder.
The corruption and money laundering allegations surrounding Schembri and his associates have been a significant public concern. Court testimonies have suggested complex money movements intended for corruption.
The handling of the case has been questioned, with the police admitting they started their investigations only after inquiries were concluded. As evidence gathering nears its end, the next step is for the Attorney General to decide on the trial court.
What do you think will happen in today’s hearing?