Keith Schembri Reacts After Court Clears Him Of Criminal Charges

This morning, former OPM chief of staff Keith Schembri announced on social media that he has been cleared by the court, along with four others, of what he called “phantom criminal charges” allegedly driven by figures linked to the Nationalist Party. Schembri said this was the first criminal case decided in his favour from a series of cases opened by the same “circle of people” who, he claimed, “swore to break” him. He insisted the accusations were never based on wrongdoing but on his political background and contributions to the Labour Party and government.

Schembri said he has always maintained his innocence and will continue to do so “until the very end.” He described the ruling as the start of closure to a “very difficult chapter” for him and those around him. While recognising that there is still “a long road ahead,” he thanked all those who supported him over the years.

Schembri’s legal battles are part of a long and complex chapter in Maltese politics. As chief of staff to former Prime Minister Joseph Muscat between 2013 and 2019, he became one of the most controversial figures of the past decade. His name gained international attention through the Panama Papers, which linked him to offshore structures and fuelled allegations of corruption. He resigned in November 2019 amid mounting scrutiny following the assassination of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia and subsequent investigations into senior officials.

In the years since, Schembri has been charged in multiple high-profile cases, including alleged money laundering, corruption, fraud, and ties to the 17 Black scandal.

#MaltaDaily