VALLETTA – An independent investigation into the murder of the investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galicia, established that the Maltese state “must take responsibility” for the murder because of the culture of impunity emanating from the highest levels of government.
Caruana Galizia’s family had asked for an investigation into the car bomb that killed the journalist on October 16, 2017, which found that there was no evidence that the state had played a direct role in the murder, but ruled that it must take responsibility. accountability, having created an atmosphere of impunity, generated by the highest levels in the heart of the administration which, like an octopus, has spread to other entities, such as regulators and the police, leading to a collapse of the rule of law “.
Malta, three years ago the killing of Daphne Caruana Galizia: a political murder
by CARLO BONINI
According to the file, cited by the media on the island, the state has failed to assess the risks to the life of the journalist and to take the consequent measures to avoid them.
Jorgen Fenech, a prominent businessman who had ties to some government officials, is accused by prosecutors of being the mastermind of the murder. He pleaded not guilty to allegations of alleged complicity in the murder and alleged organization and financing of the attack. In addition, three men were accused of carrying out the attack, two of having supplied explosives and another of being the intermediary. The trials are ongoing. One of the perpetrators of the attack has admitted his role, as well as the intermediary.
Murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia: the untouchables, the bomb and the links with the mafia
by Cecilia Anesi, Lorenzo Bagnoli, Giulio Rubino * and Ivan Martin, Jacob Borg **
Caruana Galizia had uncovered corruption networks in Malta and abroad, publicly accusing some Maltese politicians and officials including the prime minister Joseph Muscat, with documents linking it to the “Panama papers” scandal. The 53-year-old journalist was killed in a car bomb attack near her home on October 16, 2017.
Muscat, who has always rejected the accusations, resigned at the end of 2019 following protests that pressed for the truth about the murder of the reporter and after some of his close collaborators were implicated in the investigation.
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