Mark Schapiro, the United States’ Charge d’Affaires in Malta, has liked a tweet by PN MEP Roberta Metsola which warned the island’s reputation is being destroyed “by those who want to protect themselves at the cost of the country”.

Metsola tweeted this post in light of the publication of a Moneyval report, which urged Malta to up its game in investigating and prosecuting money laundering.

#Malta's reputation is being destroyed by those who want to protect themselves at the cost of the country.

This is too serious to ignore. https://t.co/oDENVwKc5K

— Roberta Metsola (@RobertaMetsola) September 12, 2019

“While Malta was in principle able to provide examples of convictions for most of the different types of money laundering, cases of stand-alone money laundering are very rare and no recent case was presented in relation to professionals of the financial sector,” the report stated.

In a tweet on his own profile, Schapiro adopted a more diplomatic stance to the report.

#Moneyval report is official today. Hard reforms & training work already in process to enhance oversight, more work ahead. With partners @UKinMalta we will help #Malta strengthen financial system in interest of all. @edward_scicluna @MFSAComm @Joecuschieri @USTreasury @CFTC https://t.co/alDfOsaCuR

— Ambassador Constance J. Milstein (@USAmbMalta) September 12, 2019

“Hard reforms and training work already in process to enhance oversight, more work ahead. With [our]  partners at the British High Commission, we will help Malta strengthen [its] financial system in interest of all,” he said.

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