The United States bans two former Maltese officials from entering due to alleged corruption – LAWYERS
U.S. Department of State Wednesday publicly appointed two former Maltese government officials and their immediate families, and banned them from entering the United States on alleged significant corruption.
Both officers banned from entry are Konrad Mizzi, former Minister of Energy and Conservation, and Keith Schembri, former Chief of Staff of the Prime Minister. Their immediate families are also banned, which includes their wives and children.
According to the State Department, the two former officials used their political influence and position to their advantage. This allegedly included a scheme involving a government contract for the construction of a power plant awarded in exchange for kickbacks and bribes. According to the department, this “undermine the rule of law and the faith of the Maltese public in the democratic institutions and public processes of their government. ”
Reuters and Times of Malta reported in 2020 that offshore company 17 Black Limited benefited from a 2015 wind farm project purchased by the Maltese state energy company Enemalta. Both Mizzi and Schembri allegedly received payments from 17 Black Limited for unspecified actions, although both men denied the wrongdoing.
Wednesday’s nominations will be made under Section 7031 (c) of the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Program Appropriations Act, 2021. On December 11, the department also sanctioned 12- the official of foreign governments for their grave violations of human rights or corruption. . The State Department appointed more than 149 individuals under Section 7031 (c).
Malta also faced legal action in 2021 for its own passport money schemes, which have provided loopholes for Chinese, Saudi and Russian millionaires to obtain EU passports.