Malta Forensic Accountant Testifies in Breach of Rights Case Over Alleged Money Laundering Scheme

Background

A forensic accountant and anti-corruption activist, Miroslava Milenovic, has taken the stand to testify in a breach of rights case filed by former OPM chief of staff Keith Schembri and his business associates against the Maltese government. The case revolves around allegations of corruption and money laundering involving Schembri, Adrian Hillman, Robert Zammit, and Malcolm Scerri.

Investigation

Milenovic was engaged as an expert to assist in a magisterial inquiry into suspected money laundering and other financial crimes. She was tasked with analyzing over thirty “suspicious transactions” between 2011 and 2015 involving Schembri and Hillman. The investigation revealed that Schembri allegedly filtered over €650,000 to Hillman, which is believed to be linked to the purchase of new printing machinery by Progress Press, a subsidiary of Allied Newspapers.

Charges and Allegations

The inquiring magistrate concluded that charges for alleged money laundering and other financial crimes should be brought against Schembri, his business associates, and Hillman. The accused are all denying the allegations and the case is ongoing.

Schembri’s Constitutional Proceedings

Schembri’s constitutional proceedings claim that his fundamental rights were breached due to the length of time taken by the magisterial inquiry, which exceeded its stipulated timeframe. Additionally, he alleges that information from the investigation was leaked to the media, compromising his right to a fair hearing.

Milenovic’s Testimony

Milenovic testified that she is an anti-corruption activist and has been engaged as an expert in various financial crime investigations worldwide, including those conducted by the Council of Europe and the United Nations. She denied any political affiliation with “Enough is Enough,” a Serbian association focused on combating corruption, stating that she had only joined the movement in 2016 to support its anti-corruption efforts.

However, Milenovic’s lawyer revealed that she was considered as a potential candidate for the presidential elections in Serbia and had meetings about the possibility. She later denied any involvement with the association after refusing to run as a candidate and eventually resigned from her position.

Previous Experience

The forensic accountant has been involved in eight magisterial inquiries in Malta, but declined to reveal details of the cases or their outcomes due to confidentiality agreements.

Case Representation

Lawyers Edward Gatt and Mark Vassallo are representing Schembri’s associates, while State Advocate lawyer Fiorella Fenech Vella is representing the government and law enforcement agencies.

Implications

The outcome of this case will likely have significant implications for Malta’s efforts to combat financial crimes and ensure the integrity of its justice system.