Why Abela’s done nothing

Why has Robert Abela completely ignored all the recommendations of the Daphne Caruana Galizia inquiry? Why has Robert Abela done nothing, one year after the report? What will make him implement those vital recommendations?

Abela’s done nothing because he can’t.  And nothing will make him implement the recommendations.  No amount of pressure from civil society organisations, no amount of protest from international organisations.

No amount of declarations by the Council of Europe. No matter how many resolutions the European Parliament passes. Not even suspending hundreds of millions of EU funds for undermining the rule of law will make Abela budge.

The prime minister simply cannot. Implementing those changes would spell the end of him.

It would expose Joseph Muscat and his pyramid of grand collaborators who have made money through his direct interventions –  Ram Tumuluri, Ashok Rattehalli, Shaukat Ali, Mark Pawley, Cheng Chen, Ali Sadr Hasheminejad, Hani Salah, Yorgen Fenech, Turab Musayev, Armin Ernst.

With them is an army of local beneficiaries including the Zammit Tabonas, Apap Bolognas, the Gasans, James Caterers, Construct Furniture, Silvio Debono, Bonnici brothers, Mario Pullicino and many more.

And Muscat’s insiders whose personal financial remuneration was significantly boosted – Joseph Cuschieri, James Piscopo, Johann Buttigieg, Kurt Farrugia, Jeffrey Curmi, Mark Mallia, Edward Caruana, Adrian Hillman, Keith Schembri.

Abela must protect himself. The increased transparency and accountability that come with “unexplained wealth orders”, crimes of abuse of office and association with criminal organisations, which the inquiry board recommended, would bring the whole edifice crumbling down.

Labour’s whole structure is glued together with secret deals with shady characters who finance the party. Abuse of office and thousands of direct orders is what’s keeping it together.

The inquiry board’s recommendation to tighten laws on issuing contracts and direct orders, prohibiting secret negotiations with businessmen, and banning communication through unofficial channels would unravel Labour’s tightly spun web.

Transparency would spell its undoing. Accountability would see its structure razed to the ground.

Those greedy degenerates would lose their freedom if Abela implemented the inquiry board’s recommendations to introduce the crime of obstruction of justice and hindering police investigations.

Many would end up behind bars if Abela brought in the inquiry board’s recommended ‘unexplained wealth orders’, “associazione di stampo mafioso”, or “abuzo d’ufficio”.

Abela knows their ruthlessness. For them, “it’s just business as usual”.  Just another €150,000.  Abela knows how cheaply inconvenient persons can be liquidated or perceived enemies punished.

It’s mere pocket money for some of those holding that pyramid together. Even threatening their revenue sources would trigger repercussions, let alone if their very freedom were jeopardised.

Yorgen Fenech’s long custody weighs heavily on their minds.  If he could end up incarcerated, so could the rest of them.  They’re determined not to let it happen, no matter what it takes. They know they cannot stop at anything.  And so does Robert Abela.

After all Abela knows the likes of tal-Maksar well – he represented them. They never seemed to lack the means or the will to blow people up, according to accusations they face in court.

Abela’s all too familiar with Christian Borg, his partner in the “small Zabbar plot” deal. Borg and his mates are accused of abducting Carlos Schembri, beating him, causing him injuries, breaking his tooth, leaving him bleeding and with visual impairment, threatening to rape his sister and cutting his fingers off – simply because Schembri stole one of his vans.

Borg counts Robert Abela his best friend – with good reason. Borg’s companies have received multi-million euro government contracts and direct orders from Transport Malta and LESA and are expected to bag a €2.5 million contract to supply the judiciary with vehicles.

If you maim a man for stealing your van, what would you do to anybody who dares deprive you of millions?

Abela can hardly introduce the crime of “associazione di stampo mafioso” when he’s done business with Borg, making tens of thousands in the process. The same Borg flew to Las Vegas for a lavish holiday with Tax Commissioner Marvin Gaerty just two months after Borg was called in for a “tax audit” of the company Princess Holdings, which is now poised to collect that €2.5 million government contract.

Gaerty was “probed” by the police for exchanging messages with Yorgen Fenech. Yet Abela kept Gaerty as Tax Commissioner even while under police bail for suspected trading in influence with Yorgen Fenech.

Abela’s hands are tied. He’s got too many skeletons to risk irritating that dangerous pyramid of reprobates.  He’s acutely aware some know about his skeletons. And they won’t hesitate exhuming them when the time comes, as they’ve done before.

Who leaked Abela’s eye watering remuneration at the Planning Authority?  Who revealed Abela’s Zabbar property deal with Christian Borg? Who exposed Abela’s dodgy Zejtun property deal or its rental to absent Russians? Only those closest to him could have known.

Malta’s only hope of justice is through delegation of jurisdiction to international courts and authorising international police forces to conduct investigations. That’s what nailed Yorgen Fenech.

Most of the grand corruption – Mozura, Electrogas, SOCAR, Vitals, Pilatus – spread across multiple jurisdictions. The Interpol Financial Crime and Anti-corruption Centre (IFCAAC) is specifically tasked to tackle financial crimes, illicit money flows and asset recovery. When an entire nation is affected by cross-border corruption, an international response is required.

Abela has multiple vested interests for his inaction. Our police and judiciary are too ill-resourced and inexperienced to deal with such complex criminality. And their independence is justifiably doubted.

Interpol has the expertise to trace, freeze, seize and return stolen public funds to the country of origin. The International Anti-corruption Coordination Centre (IACCC) brings together specialist law enforcement officers from multiple agencies around the world to tackle grand corruption. Financial intelligence Units from across the world have joined forces – including Jersey’s and Gibraltar’s. Why hasn’t Malta’s FIAU joined?

It’s probably still waiting for Abela’s approval – it will never come.

                           

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KLAUS
KLAUS
2 years ago

This is exactly why we need a UNITED EXTERNAL OPPOSITION.

This corruption only makes the poor poorer.

It is not enough to be ashamed of being Maltese,
the swamp really needs to be drained.

For the future of our children.

Francis Said
Francis Said
2 years ago
Reply to  KLAUS

And the few corrupt rich, richer.

Francis Said
Francis Said
2 years ago

An excellent article that I wish does not fall on deaf ears.

Godfrey Leone Ganado
Godfrey Leone Ganado
2 years ago

Well done for this breathtaking article.
In my opinion, the EU should still and immediately suspend or withdraw all funding allocated to Malta, until concrete proof is given that all the above measures are implemented.
This may still not break the convenient stubborness of his head, excerberated by possible threats on him. However, it will surely bring down Malta and its population to its knees.
We are already hitting a National Debt of around €10 billion, so perhaps an increase of some additional billions, together with more National deficits over €1 billion, will start moving the numerous small core stones, together with the additional 40,000, the Gahans like to quote.

makjavel
makjavel
2 years ago

Only the oncoming financial disaster resulting from the “Make Hay While the Sun Shines” Muscat programme , except that there is no HAY in the stores, will bring the Maltese to their senses. The Rats roaming in the stores under the well known title of Persons of Thrust , Consultants and the variuos Thuema jobs dished out by the likes of Keith Schembri for votes , keeping their mouth shut or contracts awarded, have eaten all the hay and contaminated what is left. The 10 Fat Cows years have turned into the 10 lean and dying cows years.

Francis Darmanin
Francis Darmanin
2 years ago
Reply to  makjavel

Yes, but the Fat Cows position is tantamount to that of slave drivers. They won’t be footing the bill. It will be the slaves.

saviour mamo
saviour mamo
2 years ago

The Opposition should do its part without delay. The Opposition should boycott first of all parliament and anything that has to do with the government. Do nothing as it is doing, means being in cahoots with the government.

Carnel camilleri
Carnel camilleri
2 years ago
Reply to  saviour mamo

Boycottig Parliament does no solve any problem as it did not solve in the past.What we need is a strong opposition with persons taking active part in the party instead of advicers.. .

saviour mamo
saviour mamo
2 years ago

Is the status quo solving any problem? No.

makjavel
makjavel
2 years ago
Reply to  saviour mamo

The people will be getting what they deserve. When the PN and other government critics tell it as it should be , they are accused by all the paid trolls and their goons as being NEGATIVE. With this type of government that does not consult but instead attacks its critics , one of the choices would be , “Let It Hang Itself”.

Paul Sullivan
Paul Sullivan
2 years ago

A pigsty smells better.

Joseph Tabone Adami
Joseph Tabone Adami
2 years ago

“Abela’s done nothing because he can’t”
“The prime minister simply cannot…”
“Abela must protect himself”
“Abela’s hands are tied”
“Abela has vested interests for his inaction”

Not a very good predicament at all for any country’s leader, one would say. Far from it!!

Joseph
Joseph
2 years ago

The worst thing is when all institutions are are locked under the hands of a dictator. The people for good will have to unlock this chain of criminal people. We had already been in touch of a car bomb that of Daphne Caruana Galizia. Same old stories like those of the Italian Mafia killing two famous anti mafia Presidents.

makjavel
makjavel
2 years ago

Is this what Robert Abela is probably paying for his IBIZA fuck all holiday.

SEASONAL CHARTER RATES
SUMMER
FROM
€69,500
p/week + expenses

https://www.yachtcharterfleet.com/luxury-charter-yacht-54600/baloo-iii.htm

Albert Beliard
Albert Beliard
2 years ago

In order to bust the 3M Gang (Malta Mafia Mobsters) in power from the Castille who have violated and abused European laws, they need to be hit hard in two places – their wallets and balls.

Mick
Mick
2 years ago

Good article Kevin says it like it is. I wouldn’t rely on help from the EU or Interpol anytime soon they are very reluctant to get involved physically in National problems of any kind. This is a home grown problem which has been festering for years with both parties involved in the skulduggery and theft and fear of retribution or losing a seat driving it deeper and further away from scrutiny or action.
It needs to be solved by the Maltese who know how the crooked systems work and where the bodies are buried. Essentially its like a “fatberg” a massive pile of shit that needs to be broken down and dissolved with legislation to ensure that it can never again take a foothold on the Island.

Vincent Gauci
Vincent Gauci
2 years ago

Pity that we should depend so much (=exclusively) on overseas agencies to get Justice done.

joe tedesco
joe tedesco
2 years ago

ABELA AND THE REST OF HIS PL GOVERNMENT ARE EXPIRED,
THEY CAN NO LONGER MANAGE THIS COUNTRY EFFECTIVELY
BECAUSE EITHER THEY DO NOT WANT OR ELSE ARE
INCAPABLE OF SORTING OUT THE GREAT MESS THEY
THEMSELVES CREATED.

Joseph Micallef
Joseph Micallef
2 years ago

The big question is – Why is the Commissioner of Police with his hands in his pocket? Maybe trying to find if he still has his balls? Well actually I know the answer because he’s said it each time he was interviewed. “We need to find evidence”. Well then, bloody take your hands out of your pockets and and seriously search for it. It is there waiting for you.

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