Updated | Regulator to present report on Identity Malta ‘in due time’

The Regulator overseeing the workings of Identity Malta will be presenting a report “in due time”, Home Affairs Minister Manuel Mallia said.

Last week, the main concessionaires for Malta’s citizenship programme Henley & Partners, revealed that over 100 individuals made financial commitments while over 50 who applied to become Maltese citizens already received their residence permits.

The financial commitments made resulted in over €100 million in foreign direct investment, Henley said.

In parliament, Opposition leader Simon Busuttil asked how many dependants of the main applicants had applied.

Taking umbrage at Busuttil’s use of the words “sale of citizenship”, the Minister reiterated that “Malta’s citizenship is not for sale”.

“If he [Busuttil] is referring to the Individual Investor Programme, the Regulator will be presenting in due time a report on the workings of Identity Malta,” Mallia said.

He also confirmed that six dependants of the main applicants had submitted a full application to become Maltese citizens.

Meanwhile, in the Public Accounts Committee, the Opposition asked the government whether it intended to publish the Henley contract. In comments to the Sunday Times, the concessionaries said they didn’t mind if a copy of the contract is published.

Justice Minister Owen Bonnici said there had been no formal communication between Henley and the government confirming the concessionaire’s willingness to publish the contract.

The government had been reluctant to publish the contract, pointing out that an unsuccessful bidder – Arton Capital – was contesting the government’s decision in court.

“Our position has not changed and we should discuss the matter when, according to the PAC agenda, the discussion on the Henley contract takes place,” Bonnici said.