Let's move back to 16 October 2017, when Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia lost her life. Her death was caused by a bomb planted in her car which was detonated via text message. At the time, Daphne had published a series of articles accusing prominent figures, including then ministers, of corruption.
Yorgen Fenech, one of the richest men on the island, is alleged to be behind her murder. He is the majority shareholder in the Tumas Group, which owns casinos and hotels on the island, and also has stakes in the energy industry. He is also the owner of Malta's famous Portomaso casino, which is also the venue for the popular Malta Poker Festival.
Prior to the murder, the journalist was working on stories about corruption involving various offshore payments from the Fenech-controlled group (Dubai-based 17 Black) to former Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, his chief of staff Keith Schembri and former energy minister Konrad Mizzi. On her blog, she also focused on money laundering, the links between the Maltese online gambling industry and organised crime, or the Azeri influence in Malta. She also addressed the links of Maltese politicians to the Panama Papers scandal. Her murder then brought down the government.
In 2022, two brothers, Alfred and George Degiorgio, were convicted of her murder. Although they initially denied involvement in the murder, they eventually confessed to detonating the bomb and told the court everything they knew about the case in exchange for a reduced sentence. The court sentenced them to 40 years behind bars.
In 2019, businessman Yorgen Fenech was arrested on his yacht while trying to flee the island. Police and prosecutors say Fenech was the mastermind behind the murder. Along with the murder charge, he is also accused of being a member of a criminal group, corruption and money laundering. In his court statement, Fenech accused Keith Schembri of being the mastermind behind the murder of the journalist. Fenech, however, denies all charges against him.
On 24 January 2025, Fenech was granted bail as Maltese law allows bail for suspects who have been detained for more than 30 months. The family of the murdered journalist expressed frustration at Fenech's release. "The blame for the murderers being released on bail without a trial date being set lies with the Prime Minister and the Minister of Justice. They had 5 years to fix the system and did nothing. Failure after failure on the part of the court. It is becoming clear whose side they are on. On the side of the criminals and not on the side of the ordinary people," said the son of journalist Matthew Caruana Galizia.
Fenech's aunt is currently the head of the Tumas Group, having put up her 15.46% stake in the company, which is worth around 52 million euros, as collateral as part of a bail deal. Fenech had to pay a deposit of €80,000 and a personal guarantee of €120,000. Fenech is forbidden to get closer than 50 metres from the coast or the airport, must sign the bail book at the police station every day and stay at home between 5pm and 11am. If the suspect violates any of these regulations, his aunt's shares in the company will be transferred to the government. Fenech's trial still has no date, despite the prosecution having closed its case.
Source - cardplayer.com, wikipedia.org, euractiv, maltatoday.com, timesofmalta.com