The Maltese Nationalist Party has urged the prime minister to sack Joseph Cuschieri, the chief executive of the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA).
It follows an investigation by local newspaper Times of Malta, which revealed that the top boss at the regulator took a trip to Las Vegas in 2018 with a murder suspect.
Yorgen Fenech is being investigated in relation to the murder of Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, who led the Panama Papers investigation into corruption on the island.
The trip was paid for by Fenech and took place just one month after Cuschieri became chief executive of the MFSA, following his departure from the Malta Gaming Authority, where he held a similar position and was also chairman.
Cuschieri said he was invited to advise on gaming-related regulatory matters, as Fenech is a casino owner.
The MFSA boss added that there was no conflict of interest or ethical breach during the trip.
‘Damage to Malta’s reputation’
“The last thing the financial services sector in Malta needs is a shadow over the regulator,” the Nationalist Party said.
Cuschieri was appointed MFSA chief by former prime minister Joseph Muscat but was confirmed by current PM Robert Abela.
The Nationalist Party continued: “Cuschieri failed to publicly declare these facts, despite the developments of recent months, and it had to be the Times’s journalists who uncovered these shocking facts that continue to confirm how the institutions were hijacked by those who had an interest in weakening them.
“Robert Abela has to act to show he is determined in fixing the damage caused to Malta’s reputation.”
The Nationalist Party added that the prime minster should sack Cuschieri immediately.
International Adviser reached out to the MFSA and Cuschieri but did not receive a comment in time for publication.
