UPDATED: Nationalist Party, Civil Society Network Demand Instant Revocation Of Pilatus Bank’s License
The Nationalist Party and the Civil Society Network have called on the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA) to revoke the license of Pilatus Bank by noon, following the arrest of its chairman Ali Sadr Hasheminejad by the United States.
PN leader Adrian Delia told a press conference this morning that the writing was on the wall for Pilatus Bank and that Malta’s reputation is at its lowest point in recent history.
“The government doesn’t care about safeguarding Malta’s reputation,” he said. “The only reason Pilatus Bank was given a Maltese banking license in the first place was because it couldn’t get one anywhere else. It was given a license only four weeks after it applied for the benefit of a few people and the cost of Malta’s reputation.”
“The MFSA must revoke its license immediately, and every minute wasted is another minute where the world has its eyes on us and realises that we’re not living in a normal country. The government would rather protect criminals than Maltese workers.”
Earlier journalist-blogger Manuel Delia, on behalf of the Civil Society Network, told a press conference outside Pilatus Bank’s Ta’ Xbiex headquarters that the MFSA must revoke the bank’s license by noon.
“Earlier investigations have already indicated that Pilatus Bank isn’t a bank, but a den of criminality,” Delia said. “As far as we know, the police haven’t lifted a finger and the MFSA have repeatedly certified the bank with a clean bill of health. Whatever due diligence was carried out on the bank missed what the US authorities found last night. Whoever carried out this due diligence in Malta is either incompetent or corrupt; either way they must be fired on the spot.”
Delia said he hoped the police have already seized the servers, documents and all other evidence from Pilatus Bank and interrogated its staff.
Pilatus Bank chairman Ali Sadr Hasheminejad
Meanwhile, PN Sliema councillor and activist Michael Briguglio demanded the instant sackings of tourism minister Konrad Mizzi, the Prime Minister’s chief of staff Keith Schembri and police commissioner Laurence Cutajar, as well as the impeachment of Attorney General Peter Grech.
“Malta is being described around the world as a centre of money laundering and organised crime, and if the authorities don’t take instant action against Pilatus Bank, then they will simply be proving this point,” he said.
Opposition leader Adrian Delia demanded the suspension of Pilatus Bank’s license and Partit Demokratiku urged the MFSA to “take all appropriate measures” to preserve Malta’s reputation.
“The arrest may prove to be a serious threat to Malta’s reputation as a financial centre,” the PD said. “MFSA as an independent authority has the power to act even on the basis of this international arrest and to unilaterally perform on-site inspections which can lead to suspension of its license.”
READ NEXT: WATCH: First Reaction Of Malta’s Finance Minister On Pilatus Bank Chairman Arrest
