Court Rejects Jason Azzopardi’s Request For Inquiry Into Minister Silvio Schembri

Feb 28 2025

A court has definitively rejected Jason Azzopardi’s request for a magisterial inquiry into Economy Minister Silvio Schembri, confirming an earlier ruling that found no legal basis for the investigation.

Judge Neville Camilleri upheld Magistrate Antoine Mifsud Bonnici’s initial decision, dismissing claims of procedural unfairness.

The court found that the media reports Azzopardi cited did not explicitly allege criminal conduct.

Azzopardi, a lawyer and former Nationalist Party MP, sought an inquiry into Schembri’s finances, arguing that the minister’s lifestyle was inconsistent with his declared income.

The court noted that while media reports can serve as the basis for an inquiry, the ones presented in this case did not directly link Schembri to crimes such as money laundering or trading in influence.

In response to the ruling, Schembri stated that the court had once again confirmed that the allegations against him and his family were baseless. He emphasised that the judge had clearly ruled that Azzopardi’s claims did not prove or even suggest that he had committed any crime.

Schembri further claimed that the court found no indication that he was involved in offences such as money laundering, receiving gifts, or trading in influence.

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Malta Rangers Act After Illegal Dumping Posted To TikTok

Feb 28 2025

The Malta Ranger Unit (MRU) has reported an illegal construction waste dumping incident to the Environmental Protection Unit (EPU) after a group of men filmed themselves discarding waste and shared the footage on TikTok.

The now-deleted video showed a man unloading construction waste from a van into the countryside while others laughed in the background.

The MRU reported that it received numerous public reports about the video and acted swiftly, identifying the site within 40 minutes, documenting evidence, and notifying the police.

The rangers reportedly identified the men involved through the van’s license plate and called for their vehicles to be seized.

Fines for illegal waste dumping start at €4,000 per 10 cubic metres, rising to €50,000, with hazardous material disposal carrying a minimum penalty of €6,000.

The MRU emphasised that illegal dumping remains widespread due to weak enforcement and low chances of offenders being caught.

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Three Persons To Be Taken To Court Over Journalist Threatening

Feb 28 2025

Three persons are set to be taken to court today following the harassment and threatening of journalists earlier this week, sources close to MaltaDaily revealed.

The ONE News journalists were covering the AFM drug theft case outside the court, when relatives of the accused levied insults and threats at the journalists.

The behaviour of those concerned saw the condemnation of it all from IGM and various other entities, including the PL and PN.

The relatives threatened the journalists with violent acts and obscene language, and are set to appear in court today at noon.

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Gozo Among Malta’s Wealthiest Regions, Study Finds

Feb 28 2025

A recent study conducted by the Central Bank of Malta, in collaboration with the Gozo Regional Development Authority, highlights Gozo’s strong financial standing.

The island ranks among Malta’s top three wealthiest regions, with a median net wealth of €334,000, just behind the Western and Northern regions.

A major factor contributing to Gozo’s wealth is its high homeownership rate, with 89.1% of households owning their homes in 2020.

However, property value growth has been more modest in Gozo compared to other regions. The median value of a primary residence increased by just 11.1% between 2017 and 2020, well below the national average of 50%.

Income levels have also risen. In 2020, Gozitan households reported a median gross income of €31,843, above the national median of €29,700. This reflects an 18.2% increase from 2017.

Salaried employment accounts for 68.2% of household income, with self-employment contributing 13.7%.

In terms of debt, the median household debt in Gozo decreased to €31,000 in 2020—a significant 61.4% reduction from 2017. Household consumption rose by 26.6%, reaching €11,400.

These positive trends indicate that Gozo’s financial resilience continues to grow, with rising incomes and decreasing debt levels. Find the full study here.

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