It was still dark when Yorgen Fenech left port Portomaso on Malta early Wednesday morning. His yacht Gio obviously headed for Italy. But she did not get far. The police intercepted the boat - arresting Fenech, one of Malta's most affluent and influential businessmen. His alleged escape attempt had failed.
In the small island republic with less than 500,000 inhabitants, the excitement is great. Many believe that after the arrest, the most puzzling mystery of recent years will soon be cleared up: Who is behind the brutal murder of the murder of investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, who was killed by a car bomb in October 2017?
DOMENIC AQUILINA / EPA-EFE / REX
Portomaso harbor where Yorgen Fenech's yacht was located
Just one day before Fenech set sail, another news had caused a stir. A suspect from the Maltese demimonde, described by the Maltese press as a middleman in the murder plot, had been arrested. The detainee claims to know the background to the murder of Caruana Galizia. Prime Minister Joseph Muscat promised the man impunity if he cooperated with the judiciary and provided information that led to the murders of the murders.
A little later, Fenech left with his yacht. Now it is speculated wildly: What had the middleman to do with the assassination? How well did he know Fenech? And what does Fenech fear from his statements?
For two years, the Murder Caruana Galizia in Malta has been dealing with politics and society. The journalist had caused quite a stir and annoyance with her articles. Her research was directed, inter alia, against an examining magistrate, businessmen and government members. As a partner in an international research network, she analyzed parts of the Panama Papers for Malta, revealing questionable financial transactions by government members. Again and again, the journalist was threatened and covered with complaints.
"A national trauma"
On October 16, 2017, Caruana Galizia was blown up near her house in her car. Her son Matthew heard the explosion from home. He found body parts of his mother in the vicinity of the vehicle thrown into a field.
"The murder of Daphne has shaken our society," says Vanessa Frazier, the Maltese Ambassador to Rome. "Everyone knows where they were on their anniversary, it's a national trauma." Immediately, the government had offered informants a reward of one million euros, if their tips led to the seizure of the perpetrators.
Only a few weeks later, the Maltese authorities arrested ten men. Three of them are said to have formed the killer squad, but have not yet been convicted. Why Caruana Galizia was killed and who comes as a client in question, remained open. News and conjectures tumbled in the local media. So far, there have been many allegations, but not so much hard evidence and no convictions. If the latest reports are confirmed, a clearer picture could emerge.
Pressure on Prime Minister Muscat rises
Guglielmo Mangiapane / REUTERS
Malta's premier Joseph Muscat
The trail of the money would therefore lead, inter alia, to a mysterious company called 17 Black based in Dubai, had also researched on the Daphne Caruana Galizia. Funds from this company are said to have flowed through Panama apparently to a cabinet member and a close associate of Prime Minister Joseph Muscat. Just over a year after the assassination, Reuters and The Times of Malta, owner of 17 Black, reported to Yorgen Fenech.
Fenech was head of the Tumas Group until he apparently resigned from this post shortly before his escape attempt. According to the Times of Malta, the company, founded by his father, earns his money from real estate, casinos, hotels, in ports and in government-related energy sectors - and was the subject of Daphne Caruana Galizia's research. So far, Fenech has rejected allegations, the newspaper writes. He had not denied being the owner of 17 Black.
According to Maltese media, Fenech has not been led by the authorities as a defendant in connection with the murders, but rather as a "person of interest". After his arrest, the businessman, according to the newspaper "Malta Today", has now in turn made a pardon to the President and offered a statement about the murder case.
Matthew Mirabelli / AFP
Demonstrations in Valletta, Malta, on November 20
In the capital, Valetta, meanwhile, thousands of citizens demonstrated on Friday evening in front of the government palace Auberge de Castille, where they had written on an oversized poster the word "Mafia" over the heads of Prime Minister Muscat and two other politicians. They waved the national flag, solemnly sang their hymn - and demanded the resignation of the head of government.
