{{Short description|Maltese politician (born 1975)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}} {{Infobox officeholder | image = | caption = Keith Schembri in 2017 | office = Chief of Staff | term_start = 11 March 2013 <!-- this is when Muscat took office --> | term_end = 26 November 2019 | prime_minister = Joseph Muscat | successor = Mark Farrugia | predecessor = Edgar Galea Curmi | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1975|07|26}} | birth_place = Cospicua, Malta | spouse = Josette Schembri Vella | children = 2 | occupation = {{hlist|Political strategist|businessman}} | party = Partit Laburista }}
'''Keith Schembri''' (born 26 July 1975) is Maltese businessman and political strategist who served as chief of staff to Prime Minister Joseph Muscat from 11 March 2013 to 26 November 2019. Schembri resigned in relation to the murder investigation of Daphne Caruana Galizia and in course of the political crises in Malta.<ref>{{cite web|title=Keith Schembri resigns as OPM Chief of Staff|url=https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/keith-schembri-has-resigned-muscat.752749|website=Times of Malta|accessdate = 26 Nov 2019| date = 26 Nov 2019}}</ref> The crisis also led to unprecedented protests in Malta, which called for Schembri's resignation.<ref name=":44">{{Cite news|url=https://www.1843magazine.com/dispatches/the-prime-minister-and-the-murdered-journalist-inside-malta-a-nation-on-the-brink|title=The prime minister and the murdered journalist: inside Malta, a nation on the brink|last=Clapp|first=Alexander|date=2019-12-11|work=1843 Magazine|access-date=2019-12-14|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191211184518/https://www.1843magazine.com/dispatches/the-prime-minister-and-the-murdered-journalist-inside-malta-a-nation-on-the-brink|archive-date=11 December 2019}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite news|url=https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/opposition-walks-out-of-parliament.751252|title=Opposition walks out of Parliament over PM's failure to dismiss Schembri, Mizzi|last=Micallef|first=Keith|date=2019-11-20|work=Times of Malta|access-date=2019-12-06|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191121134222/https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/opposition-walks-out-of-parliament.751252|archive-date=21 November 2019}}</ref>
==Biography==
In 1996, Schembri established Kasco Holdings, a group of companies providing various services and products within the fields of graphic art and engineering.<ref name="Kasco website">{{cite web|title=Kasco|url=http://www.kasco.com.mt|website=Kasco website|publisher=Kasco Holdings|accessdate=30 May 2016}}</ref> The group's flagship company is Kasco Paper.<ref name="Record">{{cite web|last1=Schembri|first1=Keith|title=Keith Schembri says he wants to 'set the record straight'|url=http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20160522/local/keith-schembri-says-he-wants-to-set-the-record-straight.612797|website=Times of Malta|accessdate=30 May 2016|date=22 May 2016}}</ref>
Schembri first set up an offshore shell company in January 2011.<ref name=Dubai> {{cite web |url=http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/63704/panama_papers__konrad_mizzi_keith_schembri_wanted_to_open_dubai_account |title=Panama Papers - Konrad Mizzi, Keith Schembri wanted to open Dubai bank account |work=MaltaToday.com.mt |accessdate=8 April 2016 }}</ref>
In 2008, Joseph Muscat brought Schembri into the Labour Party. Schembri managed the 2013 electoral campaign that saw the Labour Party elected with the largest margin of victory in Malta since its independence.<ref>{{cite web|title=Labour claims largest majority ever in post-independence history|url=http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/elections2013/25287/labour-wins-pn-concedes-defeat-20130310#.V0yitZF97IU|website=MaltaToday|accessdate=30 May 2016|date=10 March 2013}}</ref>
Muscat won the Maltese election in 2013 and Schembri became part of his office team.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.zeit.de/2018/17/daphne-caruana-galizia-malta-journalistin-mord-hintergrund/komplettansicht|title=Wer hat sie umgebracht?|newspaper=Die Zeit|date=27 November 2019 |format= |access-date=19 December 2019 |last1=Munzinger |first1=Hannes |last2=Obermayer |first2=Bastian |last3=Stark |first3=Holger |last4=Zimmermann |first4=Fritz }}</ref> In July 2013 three letterbox firms were created in Panama: ''Tillgate Inc.'' owned by Schembri, Hearnville Inc. owned by Energy-minister Konrad Mizzi and Egrant.{{citation needed|date=May 2021}}
In June 2015, Schembri purchased Panama companies from the Mossack Fonseca-related firm ATC Administrators Inc, specifically Hearnville Inc and Tillgate Inc.<ref name=Dubai /> Schembri asked the audit firm Nexia BT (Mossack Fonseca franchise in Malta), auditors of the Kasco Group,<ref name=Dubai /> to help him set up a New Zealand trust and associated company. Konrad Mizzi also used Nexia for this purpose; he said Schembri suggested an overseas trust and brought him to Nexia.<ref name=hedidit>{{cite news|url=http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20160313/local/panama-konrad-mizzi-azerbaijan-trusts.605425 |title=Panama, Konrad Mizzi, Azerbaijan, trusts… |date=13 March 2016 |work=Times of Malta |accessdate=19 May 2016 }}</ref> Rotorua, Mizzi's trust, and Haast, the trust created for Schembri, are both run by Orion Trust (New Zealand). Under New Zealand law, the trusts pay no tax on foreign earnings; New Zealand regulators may demand this information, but do not disclose it to other governments.<ref name=Dubai /> Mossack flagged both Schembri and Mizzi as politically exposed persons due to their roles in the Maltese government,<ref name=Dubai /> and noted "some negative coverage regarding the tender process for supply of paper to the government," and also concerns about the level of compensation received by Mizzi's wife.<ref name=Dubai /> FPB Bank of Panama refused to open accounts for the two, judging them potential corruption risks.<ref name=Dubai />
Schembri was one of the Maltese individuals mentioned in the initial Panama Papers leaks in April 2016, together with then Minister for Energy and Health Konrad Mizzi. These revelations led to calls for Schembri's resignation from government.<ref name="no-confidence">{{cite web|title=Marlene Farrugia tables no confidence motion in Keith Schembri|url=http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20160516/local/marlene-farrugia-to-move-no-confidence-motion-in-keith-schembri.612250|website=Times of Malta|accessdate=30 May 2016|date=16 May 2016}}</ref><ref name="Censure">{{cite web|last1=Grech|first1=Helena|title=Opposition's motion on Speaker's ruling defeated - 35 against, 30 in favour|url=http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2016-05-24/local-news/Opposition-s-motion-to-request-revision-on-Speakers-ruling-6736158377|website=The Malta Independent|accessdate=30 May 2016|date=24 May 2016}}</ref> This motion was later amended by the governing party as a vote of no confidence in the Prime Minister, under whose employ Schembri falls.<ref name="Censure"/> Parliament voted along party lines and the motion was defeated.{{citation needed|date=November 2020}}
In December 2021, Schembri and Konrad Mizzi and their immediate family were sanctioned by the United States Department of State citing involvement in "significant corruption".<ref>{{cite web |title=Public Designation of Former Maltese Public Officials Konrad Mizzi and Keith Schembri Due to Involvement in Significant Corruption |url=https://www.state.gov/public-designation-of-former-maltese-public-officials-konrad-mizzi-and-keith-schembri-due-to-involvement-in-significant-corruption/ |website=state.gov}}</ref>
In May 2024, Schembri together with Muscat, Mizzi, and others were criminally charged<ref>{{cite news |title=Malta's ex-PM Muscat charged in connection with hospital sell-off scandal |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/malta-joseph-muscat-hospital-sell-off-scandal/ |work=politico |date=6 May 2024 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Joseph Muscat to be charged with bribery and criminal association |url=https://timesofmalta.com/article/joseph-muscat-charged-bribery-criminal-association.1092078 |work=TimesofMalta |date=7 May 2024 |language=en}}</ref> with, among other things, bribery, criminal association, and money laundering in relation to Vitals Global Healthcare and the related Hospital contract controversy.
In November 2024, Schembri was criminally charged with leaking information to the people involved with the murder of journalist Caruana Galizia.<ref>{{cite news |title=Keith Schembri set to face charges after Caruana Galizia leaks probe |url=https://timesofmalta.com/article/keith-schembri-set-face-charges-caruana-galizia-leaks-probe.1100725 |work=timesofmalta |date=8 Nov 2024 |language=en}}</ref>
=== Involvement in the Caruana Galizia murder investigation === {{main|2019 Malta political crisis}}
Maltese businessman Yorgen Fenech was arrested on 20 November 2019 in connection with the Daphne Caruana Galizia murder. Schembri resigned his government post on 26 November 2019, and was subsequently arrested by the police for questioning.<ref name=Vassallo>{{cite news|newspaper=BBC|title=Malta Caruana murder: Resignations spark government crisis|date=26 November 2019|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-50556578}}</ref><ref name="ToM">{{cite news|newspaper=The Times of Malta|date=27 November 2019|title=Keith Schembri under arrest, along with Yorgen Fenech's doctor|url=https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/keith-schembri-and-yorgen-fenechs-doctor-both-under-arrest.752986|quote='I don't think we know exactly whether he is being questioned or what he is being questioned about, so let's take it one step at a time', [the PM] said"}}</ref> Schembri was later released by police.<ref>[https://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2019-11-28/local-news/Keith-Schembri-released-police-see-no-need-for-him-to-remain-under-arrest-6736216804 Malta Independent]</ref> Yorgen Fenech, in his court statement, accused Schembri of being the mastermind behind the Caruana Galizia murder.<ref>{{cite web |title=Maltese PM's chief aide held in murder inquiry |date=28 November 2019 |website=The Guardian |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230613160032/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/nov/28/maltese-pms-aide-accused-of-being-mastermind-of-caruana-galizia-killing |archive-date=13 June 2023 |url-status=live |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/nov/28/maltese-pms-aide-accused-of-being-mastermind-of-caruana-galizia-killing}}</ref> Schembri is also accused of trying to influence Fenech in order to frame Chris Cardona as responsible for the murder of Caruana Galizia.<ref name=LM>[https://lovinmalta.com/news/chris-cardona-requests-protection-after-plot-to-frame-him-in-assassination-case-is-revealed/ Lovin Malta]</ref> According to Fenech's testimony in a constitutional case, Schembri had allegedly informed Fenech that the latter's phone was being tapped.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Diacono |first1=Tim |title=Yorgen Fenech Testifies On Close Friend Keith Schembri: 'He Showed Me The Pardon And Told Me My Phone Was Being Tapped' |url=https://lovinmalta.com/news/yorgen-fenech-testifies-on-close-friend-keith-schembri-he-showed-me-the-pardon-and-told-me-my-phone-was-being-tapped/ |website=Lovin Malta |date=5 December 2019}}</ref>
A campaign boycotting Kasco imports was initiated; Pasta Rummo was a notable example, having been targeted in supermarkets with stickers with bloody hands being placed on the pasta packaging. Pasta Rummo distanced themselves from Schembri in an issued statement.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Urpani |first1=David Grech |title=Rummo Distances Itself From Keith Schembri As Various Supermarkets Slash Pasta Prices Amidst Calls For Boycotts |url=https://lovinmalta.com/food/rummo-pasta-discount-keith-schembri/ |website=Lovin Malta |date=5 December 2019}}</ref>
In 20 March 2021, Schembri was charged with corruption, fraud, and money laundering. He was denied bail and taken to Corradino Correctional Facilities (Jail).<ref>[https://content.maltatoday.com.mt/ui_frontend/thumbnail/684/0/keith_schembri_in_prison_van.jpg Photo] maltatoday.com.mt</ref> He was subsequently released on bail after being denied twice.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Agius|first=Monique|date=2021-04-05|title=Watch: Keith Schembri and his associates granted bail|url=https://newsbook.com.mt/en/gathering-of-evidence-against-keith-schembri-and-associates-resumes/|access-date=2021-07-24|website=Newsbook|language=en-US}}</ref>
In May 2024, Schembri was again charged with, among other things, bribery, criminal association, and money laundering in relation to Vitals Global Healthcare and the related Hospital contract controversy (see above).
In November 2024, Schembri was criminally charged with leaking information to the people involved with the murder of journalist Caruana Galizia (see above).
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Schembri, Keith}} Category:Living people Category:People named in the Panama Papers Category:1975 births Category:People from Cospicua Category:2019 Malta political crisis Category:Individuals sanctioned by the United States Department of State