Seven appeals filed against Magistrate's decision green-lighting money laundering inquiry

Seven appeals have been filed against Magistrate Ian Farrugia’s decision, which gave the go-ahead for a magisterial inquiry to be held over money laundering allegations levelled against OPM chief of staff Keith Schembri and Tourism Minister Konrad Mizzi by Opposition leader Simon Busuttil.

The appeal was also filed by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, who was notified by the court of the request submitted by Busuttil.

Nexia BT’s Brian Tonna and Karl Cini, Kasco Ltd general manager Malcolm Scerri and former Allied Newspapers managing director, Adrian Hillman, have all filed an appeal.

Busuttil’s application seeks a criminal investigation into Mizzi and Schembri, who were revealed to have set up a secret Panama company after March 2013, with a corresponding trust in New Zealand.

Busuttil’s application seeking a criminal investigation into the two, refers to a December 2015 email in which audit firm Nexia BT gives the go-ahead to open bank accounts for offshore companies belonging to the two PEPs, despite Panamanian bank BSI requiring minimum deposits of $1 million a year.  Both Schembri and Mizzi have stated that Tillgate Inc and Hearnville Inc did not hold any bank accounts.