Disgraced MFSA boss given a new government appointment

Tista’ taqra dan l-artiklu bil-Malti

Joseph Cuschieri, the former Malta Financial Services Authority boss who was forced to resign in 2020 after a damning internal investigation has been given a new government appointment, The Shift can report.

Environment Minister Miriam Dalli has appointed Cuschieri to the chairmanship of the Eco-Contribution Appeals Board, a semi-judicial entity that hears appeals from businesses that contest the eco-tax contributions for products they place on the market.

It is understood the appointment was made on the direct instructions of Prime Minister Robert Abela.

The Office of the Prime Minister has not answered The Shift’s questions about how Cuschieri had been assigned another government appointment after being found in breach of ethical conduct at the MFSA.

Research conducted by The Shift shows that Cuschieri, despite his resignation, was retained Cuschieri on the board of Malta Strategic Partnership Projects Ltd (MSPPL). The government entity was formerly known as Projects Malta until it changed its name after a number of scandalous projects it was involved in, including negotiations on the vitiated Vitals-Steward state hospitals concession

Cuschieri’s new appointment, signed by Minister Miriam Dalli.

The government agency falls under the direct political remit of Prime Minister Abela.

Cuschieri is also the sole director of a private business – named World Class Hospitality Management Company Ltd – which was established in November 2021 in the wake of his departure from the MFSA.

MSPPL is currently leading several privatisation projects in the hospitality sector including a concession for the iconic Evans Building in lower Valletta and another involving the former Air Malta hotel, the Selmun Palace.

Cuschieri resigned from his position at the MFSA after an internal report found him in ethical breach when he and Edwina Licari, the MFSA General Counsel, travelled to Las Vegas with Yorgen Fenech.

The inquiry, led by former Chief Justice Joseph Azzopardi, found that Cuschieri had acted improperly. The MFSA spent three years hiding the report until it was forced to publish it after a freedom of information request from The Shift.

Cuschieri was also found to be taking a board honoraria that he was not entitled to, which he was asked to return.

He was also found to have bent the rules to recruit Licari to the MFSA.

The Shift has also reported how, last summer, Cuschieri’s 23-year-old daughter Katrina was recruited by Miriam Dalli as a full-time adviser.

Katrina is the granddaughter of President George Vella and Miriam Dalli once worked with Cuschieri at Vodafone.

                           

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19 Comments
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Wendy
Wendy
10 months ago

Will Joseph Cuschieri appoint Edwina Licari, his travel companion out of taxpayers’ monies, as his assistant/person of trust?

Joe Borg
Joe Borg
10 months ago
Reply to  Wendy

Kollox just jkun. Miskin irid jiekol ukoll hux.

viv
viv
10 months ago

An appointment in a fit of pique? Petulance?
Poor Robert seems to be becoming the “Hitler – STEINER !” meme.

Paul Bonello
Paul Bonello
10 months ago

Evidently the government is testing the waters. It is giving Cuschieri a rather low key appointment that starts rehabilitating him so that in a few months’ time he will be given a post of much higher calibre without causing too much of a public stir. He can then resume pigging out. These cabals have all put their neck out for each other and given reciprocal illicit and undeserved favours. They cannot afford to leave anyone of them in the lurch as otherwise the Mafia oath of one for all, all for one, will be broken.

Last edited 10 months ago by Paul Bonello
Bamboccu
Bamboccu
10 months ago

Il Gvern ghal nies bhal dawn ghandu flus pero biex itejjeb il qadgha ta’ haddiema li gew traduti u ngannati mill Gvern stess le. Li dawn qed iqattalhom qalbhom.

Judy
Judy
10 months ago

What an up side down country we live in, those who make a mess of things are rewarded, given promotions and are sheltered. This reminds me of my place of work where those who thought they knew it all, made such a mess of things. with one mistake after another Blamed their subordinates, disappointed their shareholders and disrupted many lives. They left a hole in our economy but the directors always get a raise for taking the wrong decisions What ‘s next a medal ?

Greed
Greed
10 months ago
Reply to  Judy

They have to keep them happy to keep them quiet?

agius anglu
agius anglu
10 months ago
Reply to  Judy

BOV top brass is a perfect example.

wenzu
wenzu
10 months ago

Another day in the ultra corrupt MLP!

Edgar Gatt
Edgar Gatt
10 months ago

Cuschieri has all the qualifications to be appointed in any lucrative job available and if none are available then it is created. He has had enough scandals and fraudulent dealings to qualify for the job.

Raymond
Raymond
10 months ago

A true and proper Mafia organisation. Meritocracy at its best !!!!!!

Greed
Greed
10 months ago

It really amazes me how these crooks get to keep there snouts in the trough? I would say unbelievable but hey it’s Malta all over

XPL
XPL
10 months ago

Mela biex johroglok licenzja halli tmexxi lotto booth 3 meteri kwadri, is-sur Joe Cuschieri kien jitlob kondotta nadifa. Izda biex hu jmexxi bord fid-dekasteru ta Miriam Dalli, ma hemmx bzonn kondotta nadifa ??? Dan bniedem MAHMUG BIL-PROVI ta !! U jekk hu vera li kien Robert Abela li ta istruzzjonijiet biex Joe Cuschieri jinghata l-impjieg, allura dan juri BIL-PROVI li la l-Prim Ministru u anqas Miriam Dalli ma huma denji ta posthom. Il-Prim Ministru jmissu jekk irid jimpjegah fl-OPM, jigifieri fid-dekasteru tieghu, izda m’ghandux il-bajd jghamel hekk ghax jaf li Joe Cuschieri huwa mahmug !! Miriam Dalli ma hijiex denja ghax imissha taf li din mhux kwistjoni ta policy li tigi deciza fil-kabinett u tinghata direzzjoni mill-Prim Ministru. Dan qed nitkellmu fuq ghazla ta mpjieg li l-istess prim ministru kien weghdna li se jibda jintela permezz ta sejha pubblika (b’interview). Imma l-aqwa li se jghati l-100 ewro cheque…..JA PRIM IDJOTA !!

Mario Zahra
Mario Zahra
10 months ago

X’gharukaza ta’ PM. Two weights two measures. lil Joseph Cuschieri li nqabad f’hafna affarijiet illegali issa ghamlu Chairman ta’ Bord dan kollu ghax mizzewweg li tifla tal-President. X’gharukaza ta’ PM. Ara ttelawax il-qorti nies li forsi ghandhom xi kont zghir ta’ taxxa jew ta’VAT b’lura. Hafna laburisti serji twarrbu Minn Robert Abela ghax hadmu vicin ta’ Joseph Muscat. Jista’ jinsieh il-vot taghna l-Partit Laburista tieghi u ta’ hafna nies ohra!

Anne R. key
Anne R. key
10 months ago

“It is understood the appointment was made on the direct instructions of Prime Minister Robert Abela”
It is indeed so comforting to note that although having served within a government entity, faultlessly for 24 years, no Prime Mister has ever lifted a finger to have me promoted!! So the first time a politician knocks on my door asking for my vote, shall be met with a bucket load of ‘excrement’ tal hniezer!

carlos
10 months ago

abela l-boss tal-korrotti l-iskandaluzi, l-opportunisti, il-korrotti w hallelin. warrab abel forsi Mafiamalta u l-Maltin jibdew jigbru giehhom.
Il-koruzzjoni hija s-sinsla tal- poter.

carlos
10 months ago

bi xrara tqabbad bosk. tkomplux tisfidaw lill-poplu onest. isthu, isthu, isthu – parlament gibtuh maqjel u l-Malta gibtuha mizbla bl-iskandli, serq korruzzjoni.

Silvio Farrugia
Silvio Farrugia
10 months ago

Hmieg u korruzjoni go wiccna
Paroli biss il PM Abela
L EU taf ? We let it know
Easy to go on EU websites

Joseph
Joseph
9 months ago

Cuschieri either has knowledge and must be kept quiet or he is good at helping and covering for others to make money..in all cases dirty money

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