Maltese MEP David Casa has hit back at Pilatus Bank after the beleaguered financial institution called on him to renounce him diplomatic immunity and face them to be “pursued in the courts for the enormous damages he has caused to the bank and many hard working people of Malta and their families”.

In response, Casa called the bank’s actions “dangerous and deplorable”.

“Until recently, Pilatus Bank operated in Malta with complete impunity, putting the financial sector and the many livelihoods that depend on it at great risk. Pilatus Bank echoes the Labour party’s calls for my prosecution for having fought for truth and justice to prevail. They are the ones that must be brought to justice. Pilatus Bank thinks that their threats will stop me from doing my work. They shall be sorely disappointed,” he said in a statement.

MEP David Casa

He pointed to the bank’s history as proof of their shady record

“Repeated FIAU reports have established that Pilatus Bank was the medium through which Keith Schembri and his associates laundered money. Multiple cases are the subject of ongoing magisterial inquiries. This is not in question,” he said. “And that the bank’s client list is predominantly made up of Azeri politically exposed persons is also not in question.”

“Likewise, that Pilatus Bank has severely damaged our country’s reputation is also not in doubt. So much so, that its license is currently being revoked.”

Casa also pointed out that the lawyers for Pilatus Bank are also the lawyers for the Prime Minister’s chief of Staff Keith Schembri, whom Casa has been critical of for years.

Ali Sadr, the owner and one of the directors of Pilatus Bank Holdings, is facing a slew of charges in the USA that amount up to 125 years in prison for a series of accusations that include money laundering for foreign governments.

What do you think of this war of words?

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Johnathan Cilia

Johnathan is an award-winning Maltese journalist interested in social justice, politics, minority issues, music and food. Follow him at @supreofficialmt on Instagram, and send him news, food and music stories at [email protected]