Maltese businessman Yorgen Fenech accused as the mastermind behind the assassination of Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia in October 2018, testified that Keith Schembri, the former Chief of Staff at the Office of the Maltese Prime Minister activated the Daphne murder plan. Fenech also told the Police that former Prime Minister Joseph Muscat knew about all this.
The court today heard shocking testimony in the murder of Caruana Galizia. Accused Yorgen Fenech’s statements to the police cause a furore in court. Police Inspector Kurt Zahra said that Yorgen Fenech told the Police that it was Keith Schembri who told him to get the job done as soon as possible. He continued to explain that Fenech had said that the plan was originally not his idea but alledged it was Keith Schembri who asked him to find someone to kill Daphne Caruana Galizia. Zahra also said that Fenech told the Police that apart from Schembri there were four others who knew about all this; amongst them former Prime Minister Joseph Muscat.
During the interrogations, Yorgen Fenech also claimed that Keith Schembri started giving direct and indirect messages that Daphne Caruana Galizia should be killed, back in 2014. During that time, Keith Schembri used to visit Fenech to see how he could eliminate Daphne Caruana Galizia. It was revealed that Schembri had discussed the murder with Yorgen Fenech during a dinner at Fenech’s ?ebbu? residence. Melvin Theuma, the middleman in Caruana Galiziàs assassination and who was given a presidential pardon was present for this meeting.
According to Police Inspector Zahra, Fenech had told the Police that Schembri used to pressure him to finance the assassination. Yorgen Fenech had to pay 120,000, according to what Theuma had informed him which later increased to 150,000 euros. Kurt Zahra also said that Fenech mentioned how Keith Schembri passed on to him around 85,000 euros to give them to Theuma. When Schembri knew about Theumàs plan he told Yorgen Fenech to get it done. “Do it, Do it, Do it”.
During one of the interrogations, Yorgen Fenech told the Police that former Prime Minister Joseph Muscat had asked him twice on this case – once he summoned him to Castille and asked him if he trusted Melvin Theuma. During this meeting Keith Schembri was present. The second time Muscat asked Fenech was during the birthday party organised at Girgenti, the official summer residence of the Prime Minister. Fenech had also claimed that at Girgenti, former Prime Minister Muscat informed him that Melvin Theuma will be raided by the Police in June 2019.
When asked if he had the intention to escape, Yorgen Fenech told the police that he would have done so at least two days earlier his arrest when he went to Gozo and when Schembri called him and allegedly told him “We will miss you.” On 20 November 2019 , the Armed Forces of Malta arrested Fenech on board his yacht after it was intercepted as it left Portomaso marina. Meanwhile, the Police confirmed that the investigations on Keith Schembri are not over yet.
(ITALPRESS/MNA).
