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Malta businessman Yorgen Fenech 'arrested on yacht' Malta businessman held on yacht in journalist murder probe
(32 minutes later)
Maltese police have arrested a leading businessman after intercepting his yacht off the island, reports say. A Maltese businessman has been arrested as part of the investigation into the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia last year.
Yorgen Fenech was detained by armed officers and his yacht has been searched, the Times of Malta reported. Yorgen Fenech was detained by armed officers after his yacht was intercepted and searched.
It comes a day after PM Joseph Muscat said he would consider a pardon for an alleged money launderer suspected of being the middleman in the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. It comes a day after PM Joseph Muscat said he would consider a pardon for the alleged middleman in the case.
It is not clear if the arrest is in connection with the murder inquiry. Caruana Galizia, an anti-corruption blogger, was killed by a car bomb near her home in October 2017.
However, a police source quoted by the Times of Malta said the warrant had been sought by the team investigating the murder. Malta's handling of the case has drawn international criticism.
Caruana Galizia, an anti-corruption blogger, was killed by a car bomb in 2017. Malta's handling of the case has drawn international criticism. Mr Muscat referred to Mr Fenech as "a person of interest" in the case when addressing local media. A government source later confirmed to the BBC that Mr Fenech was arrested in connection with the ongoing investigation.
Witnesses quoted by the Times of Malta said Mr Fenech's luxury yacht was intercepted by an armed patrol boat as it left the port of Portomaso, north of Valletta, early on Wednesday.Witnesses quoted by the Times of Malta said Mr Fenech's luxury yacht was intercepted by an armed patrol boat as it left the port of Portomaso, north of Valletta, early on Wednesday.
Police have not yet commented publicly on the operation. On Tuesday, Mr Muscat said the alleged money launderer suspected of being the middleman would first have to give evidence in court before a pardon could be issued.
The BBC has tried to contact Mr Fenech. Neither he nor his spokesperson have yet commented on the reports.
On Tuesday, Mr Muscat said the alleged middleman would first have to give evidence in court before a pardon could be issued.
"I gave a mandate to the attorney general to negotiate with the person's lawyers to take an unprecedented step," Prime Minister Muscat was quoted as saying."I gave a mandate to the attorney general to negotiate with the person's lawyers to take an unprecedented step," Prime Minister Muscat was quoted as saying.
"If the person collaborates and the information provided is sufficient to prosecute the mastermind of this crime, they will receive a presidential pardon.""If the person collaborates and the information provided is sufficient to prosecute the mastermind of this crime, they will receive a presidential pardon."
Who is Yorgen Fenech?
Mr Fenech heads the Tumas Group and is a director of energy generating company Electrogas.Mr Fenech heads the Tumas Group and is a director of energy generating company Electrogas.
He has also been identified by Malta's Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit (FIAU) as being the owner of a Dubai-registered company called 17 Black.He has also been identified by Malta's Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit (FIAU) as being the owner of a Dubai-registered company called 17 Black.
In June the Council of Europe named 17 Black in a resolution outlining "fundamental weaknesses" that had allowed major scandals to go unchecked in Malta.In June the Council of Europe named 17 Black in a resolution outlining "fundamental weaknesses" that had allowed major scandals to go unchecked in Malta.
Its report said 17 Black had been expected to make large monthly payments to secret Panama companies owned by senior Maltese officials and had also received large sums of money from an Azerbaijani national.Its report said 17 Black had been expected to make large monthly payments to secret Panama companies owned by senior Maltese officials and had also received large sums of money from an Azerbaijani national.
Who else has been arrested?
As well as the suspected middleman - who has not been named - three other suspects are in custody over the journalist's murder.As well as the suspected middleman - who has not been named - three other suspects are in custody over the journalist's murder.
Three men - brothers Alfred and George Degiorgio and their friend Vincent Muscat, all in their 50s - have been charged with triggering the car bomb which killed Caruana Galizia near her home in October 2017. They were arrested in December 2017 and pleaded not guilty in pre-trial proceedings.Three men - brothers Alfred and George Degiorgio and their friend Vincent Muscat, all in their 50s - have been charged with triggering the car bomb which killed Caruana Galizia near her home in October 2017. They were arrested in December 2017 and pleaded not guilty in pre-trial proceedings.
Vincent Muscat is not related to the prime minister.Vincent Muscat is not related to the prime minister.