Photo: Matthew Mirabelli/AFP via Getty Images
The chief of police is refusing to answer questions on whether and when the police plan to charge Keith Schembri, Brian Tonna, Karl Cini, and others with any crime. Keith Schembri, his relatives, businesses, and several other persons connected to him have been under an attachment order since 20 September, now more than a month. The attachment order froze all of Keith Schembri’s assets. The order was relaxed a few weeks later to allow Keith Schembri’s businesses to pay salaries to their employees.
The attachment order was issued after the conclusion of a 3-year long magisterial inquiry into a report filed by then Opposition Leader Simon Busuttil about alleged kickbacks paid by Brian Tonna to Keith Schembri on top of the sale of Maltese passports to Russian nationals.
Asked by this website if the police still believe the attachment order issued against Keith Schembri and those around him is still justified, the police chief refused to answer citing a provision in the police law that prevents police officers from giving the press the identity of anyone arrested on suspicion of a crime.
Keith Schembri was arrested the same night that his assets were frozen but was released within several hours on police bail. Police bail restricts the suspect from traveling abroad but there is a time limit for police bail which sources suggest has now expired in the case of Keith Schembri. Asked specifically if police bail on Keith Schembri has been extended or renewed, the police chief again refused to answer.
Commissioner Angelo Gafà also declined to answer questions regarding Pilatus Bank. In an early interview after his appointment as police chief, Gafà said the police were near court arraignments related to the Pilatus Bank fiasco. Arraignments were expected by the end of August but this does not appear to have happened yet.