VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Maltese businessman Yorgen Fenech has told a court that former OPM chief of staff Keith Schembri was the alleged mastermind behind the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. Fenech made the claim during a dramatic exchange with Judge Edwina Grima as prosecutors cross-examined him on Saturday. Asked directly whether he knew who had ordered the killing, Fenech replied: “Keith Schembri, Madam Justice”.
He said Melvin Theuma, the state witness and alleged middleman in the murder plot, knew who the mastermind was and would eventually reveal it. Fenech admitted paying Theuma about €450,000, but maintained the money was intended to keep him “calm and under control”, rather than to finance the murder. He also admitted leaking sensitive police information to Theuma, while insisting he had been manipulated and financially exploited.
Prosecutor Godwin Cini challenged Fenech over his claim that Schembri was responsible, asking how he could be certain without witnessing any payment between Schembri and Theuma. “His fingerprints are all over it, you’re just not seeing it” , Fenech replied.
The prosecution also questioned Fenech about his relationships with senior police officials, including former Deputy Commissioner Silvio Valletta and former Superintendent Raymond Aquilina. Fenech acknowledged being close to Valletta, saying they travelled together to football matches and that he had paid for Champions League tickets.
He was also questioned about encrypted Signal conversations with Aquilina, former head of the police anti-money laundering unit. Prosecutors presented messages in which Fenech referred to Caruana Galizia as “that witch”. He said the term reflected a nickname used in certain circles and acknowledged it was inappropriate.
(ITALPRESS)
-foto: NetNews-
