Disgraced Joseph Cuschieri, who led the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA), was busy on a spending spree from taxpayers’ monies. Cuschieri was not just busy touring the world with his friend and colleague Edwina Licari, from public funds but was also promoting himself in flashy magazines. An interview with a Maltese lifestyle magazine owned by Josette Schembri Vella, the wife of Keith Schembri, who was the chief of staff of Malta’s former Prime Minister, did cost taxpayers more than €2,200.
Friendly Money Laundering
Josette Schembri Vella, who is currently facing accusations of being part of a “complex money laundering scheme”, owns Temple Concierge Limited, the publisher of the Temple Conciere Magazine (www.templemagazines.com). The company’s auditors are Nexia BT, led by Brian Tonna and Karl Cini, who also face money laundering charges at Malta Courts.
Joseph Cuschieri decided to dish out direct orders of hundreds of thousands of euros to Nexia BT from Malta Gaming Authority’s public funds.
Old Friends
Documents published by Fintelegram clearly show that Cuschieri spent this taxpayers’ monies without any call for tenders. In 2018, he was handpicked to lead the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA). Upon shocking revelations of his traveling to Las Vegas with the alleged mastermind of the brutal assassination of a Maltese journalist, Yorgen Fenech, he had to resign in Nov 2020 in disgrace.
Joseph Cuschieri and Edwina Licari enjoyed around 38 so-called “business trips” during their MGA days. One of the trips was to South Africa. Selected advocates, GVZH, also enjoyed direct orders from Malta Gaming Authority. Cuschieri is yet to face charges in courts and is runs his own consulting business.
