Malta Regulator Sentenced for Leaking Secrets and techniques to Journalist Homicide Suspect
Malta’s former chief gaming regulator, Heathcliffe Farrugia, has been convicted of leaking official secrets and techniques to the on line casino proprietor suspected of organizing the car-bomb assassination of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.
Heathcliffe Farrugia leaked delicate info to Yorgen Fenech, proper, a on line casino proprietor who’s going through homicide expenses for his alleged function within the demise of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, middle. (Picture: On line casino.org)
On Tuesday, Farrugia was sentenced to a conditional discharge, which implies he’ll keep away from jail if he doesn’t commit against the law within the subsequent three years. He was discovered responsible of offering delicate info to Yorgen Fenech, who’s awaiting trial for homicide.
Farrugia was discovered to have fed Fenech details about rival on line casino operators, in addition to particulars of an anti-money laundering investigation that was being carried out on Fenech’s Portomaso On line casino. Till his arrest, Fenech headed Malta’s greatest land-based on line casino operator, the Tumas Group.
Damning Messages
Farrugia was the chief government of the Malta Gaming Authority, which is charged with overseeing the gaming sector within the Mediterranean island nation, one of many world’s foremost on-line gaming hubs.
However he resigned in October 2022 shortly after being questioned about incriminating conversations that police had discovered whereas inspecting Fenech’s telephone. This was in the middle of their investigation into Caruana Galizia’s homicide.
Farrugia claimed he was merely making an attempt to “console” Fenech when he offered the knowledge. Fenech was offended concerning the anti-money laundering investigation and claimed the MGA was making Tumas Gaming look unhealthy.
The then-chief regulator instructed him that the Tumas assessment was not public, including that he would attempt to bide time and delay the discharge of the report. Through the dialog, Farrugia revealed that On line casino Malta, which is owned by a rival operator, was additionally beneath investigation.
The Occasions of Malta has instructed the costs towards Farrugia have been initially hushed up with the intention to keep away from tarnishing the fame of the nation’s gaming business.
Political Meltdown
Caruana Galizia was killed in 2017, presumably as a result of she was wanting right into a authorities contract to construct an influence station which she believed had been corruptly awarded to Fenech’s firm in 2014.
Fenech was arrested as he allegedly tried to flee Malta on his yacht within the early hours of November 20, 2019.
Brothers Alfred Degiorgio and George Degiorgio have been every sentenced to 40 years in jail for planning and executing the assassination, together with their affiliate Vince Muscat, who acquired 15 years.
A so-called intermediary, Melvin Theuma, has been pardoned for testifying towards the others and figuring out Fenech because the orchestrator.
Fenech’s ties to the best echelons of Malta’s authorities introduced down the administration of then-Prime Minister Joseph Muscat. The on line casino tycoon denies involvement and has accused three members of Muscat’s administration of arranging the homicide.
