Inspector Confirms No Evidence Of Money Paid To Mizzi And Schembri In 17 Black Case
As the 17 Black court case kicked off today, a police inspector had to face questions from the suspects’ defence lawyers.
Inspector Brian Camilleri confirmed that the police didn’t find any evidence that money was ever transferred from 17 Black or its sister company Wings Investment to Konrad Mizzi and Keith Schembri.
However, he said there was criminal intent.
Money was transferred to Yorgen Fenech’s 17 Black and its sister company Wings Investment by a company owned by an Azeri executive of Socar, a company owned by LNG tank agent Mario Pullicino and a company owned by Electrogas director Paul Apap Bologna.
A 2015 email from the Panama Papers indicated 17 Black and Macbridge, linked to Accenture consultant Cheng Chen, as the target clients of Mizzi’s and Schembri’s Panama companies.
Inspector Camilleri said the email indicated that the two Panama companies planned to receive up to $2 million from 17 Black and Macbridge.
However, he confirmed that he found no evidence that any money was ever transferred from these companies, or any similar ones, to Mizzi or Schembri.
Mizzi, Schembri, Fenech, Pullicino and Apap Bologna, as well as Brian Tonna and Karl Cini, have all been charged with money laundering, corruption, trading in influence and criminal association, while Mizzi has also been charged with perjury.
They are all pleading not guilty.
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