Malta police arrest departed chief of staff in the case of journalistdrab

chief of Staff, who left the government of Malta on Tuesday, has been arrested. But it is unclear whether he is suspected in drabssag. The former chief of sta

Malta police arrest departed chief of staff in the case of journalistdrab

chief of Staff, who left the government of Malta on Tuesday, has been arrested. But it is unclear whether he is suspected in drabssag.

The former chief of staff of the government of Malta, has been arrested in connection with the investigation of a much discussed case on the murder of an investigative journalist in 2017.

Keith Schembri, who resigned from the post of chief of staff on Tuesday, was arrested after an interrogation with the police the same day, as he walked by.

He has spent the night in jail, inform sources in the government and in the judicial system for The newspaper The Times of Malta.

Police have not disclosed exactly why Schembri is arrested, or whether he is regarded as a suspect in the case of the killing of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.

The former chief of staff was summoned for questioning, after a prime suspect in the case had allegedly told police investigators that he has evidence that links Schembri to corruption.

Caruana Galiza was known to look for information on economic crime among high-ranking Holiganbet maltese.

She was in October 2017 killed by a powerful bomb that was placed in her car. Three men are arrested and awaiting trial for having brought the bomb to the blasting.

the Killing of the journalist have shaken the small nation.

Prior to his death wrote Caruana Galiza a series of blog posts with the allegations about corruption in the government. Schembri was among the persons she accused, writes the news agency Reuters.

The chief suspect in the case is the businessman Yorgen Fenech. He was arrested last week when he tried to leave Malta in his sailboat.

He has applied for a pardon in return for further information in drabssagen.

It has also emerged that Caruana Galiza shortly before his death, received information about an agreement for a power plant, which Fenech had economic interests in.

Skandalesagen about the death of Caruana Galiza led Tuesday to not only chief of staff Schembri stepped back.

Malta's tourism minister, Konrad Mizzi, announced that he will also be leaving the government.

And on Tuesday evening announced Malta's minister for the economy Christian Cardona, that he suspend himself from the government, until the investigation of the killing of the reporter is completed.

the Opposition has demanded that prime minister Joseph Muscat to resign.

/ritzau/dpa

Date Of Update: 27 November 2019, 17:00
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