Two former Maltese officials face potential prosecution over ties to 17 Black, a company owned by casino magnate Yorgen Fenech, who stands accused of orchestrating journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia's murder.

Magistrate Charmaine Galea has recommended charges against Keith Schembri, former chief aide to the prime minister, and Konrad Mizzi, former energy and health minister. The recommendation follows an extensive investigation into their connections with 17 Black.

Before her murder in 2017, Caruana Galizia was investigating the Panama Papers, which revealed that 17 Black planned to transfer US$2 million to offshore companies owned by Schembri and Mizzi.

Caruana Galizia was killed by a car bomb while investigating leaked emails from Electrogas, a company owned by Fenech that received a controversial $500 million government contract. The assassination led to widespread protests and ultimately brought down Malta's government in 2019.

The investigation breakthrough came when police arrested Melvin Theuma, who confessed to being the middleman in the murder plot. Theuma implicated Fenech as the mastermind, claiming he ordered the hit and arranged for brothers George and Alfred Degiorgio to plant the bomb. Fenech was arrested while attempting to flee Malta by yacht and maintains his innocence, instead pointing to Schembri as the orchestrator.

Schembri and Mizzi already face separate charges of bribery, criminal association, and money laundering related to government health contracts. Fenech, who formerly led the Tumas Group and owned the Qawra Oracle and Portomaso casinos, awaits trial for his alleged role in the murder.

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