Adrian Hillman extradition delayed after UK authorities seek more paperwork
Extradition proceedings to bring Adrian Hillman back to Malta to face criminal charges hit a snag as UK authorities seek further documentation before taking action
29 April 2021, 9:36am
by Kurt Sansone
The extradition of Adrian Hillman from the UK has been delayed after the authorities there have asked for more paperwork from police counterparts in Malta.
The request by the Maltese authorities for Hillman’s extradition was sent last month but the UK’s National Crime Agency has asked for further documentation, Times of Malta reported on Thursday.
Hillman is wanted by the Maltese police on charges of money laundering and corruption.
Malta nominee for European prosecution office accepted
Police Assistent Commissioner Martin Sammut has been accepted by the College of European Prosecutors to serve on the EU prosecution service
29 April 2021, 10:24am
by MaltaToday Staff
Malta’s nomination to the European Public Prosecutors Office (EPPO), Martin Sammut, has been accepted by the college of prosecutors.
Sammut, a lawyer, will act as Malta’s European Delegated Prosecutor. He has been assistant police commissioner since 2014 and a board member of the Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit since 2018.
EPPO was established in 2017 and Malta became a participating member in October 2018.
The office is an independent and decentralised prosecution office of the EU and can investigate, prosecute and bring to judgment crimes against the EU budget, such as fraud, corruption or serious cross-border VAT fraud.
The extradition of Adrian Hillman to Malta has been delayed after the UK authorities asked for further paperwork to justify the request made by the Maltese authorities.
Sources have told Times of Malta that law enforcement officials from the UK’s National Crime Agency are reviewing the application to have the former Allied Group managing director brought back to face charges of money laundering and corruption in the private sector.
The request, designated as “high priority”, was sent more than four weeks ago but the UK feels it needs further documentation on the case against Hillman before taking steps against him.
Malta passes Moneyval test after wave of anti-money laundering operations
Malta appears to have passed its Moneyval test although a final verdict still awaits within the Financial Action Task Force, an international oversight body
29 April 2021, 5:13pm
by Nicole Meilak
Malta appears to have passed its Moneyval test after a series of reforms that beefed up the country s anti-money laundering regime.
On Thursday, the Council of Europe s anti-money laundering committee voted in favour of a final report on Malta s AML and terrorism-financing safeguards during a plenary session held in Strasbourg.
It is believed that the report commends Malta on its efforts to address financial crime shortcomings. However, the report will be held confidentially until it is officially published by Moneyval in summer. The decision is expected to be formally communicated in the coming days.
A magisterial inquiry into Pilatus Bank cost €7.5 million, Justice Minister Edward Zammit Lewis said in Parliament on Tuesday.
He was replying to a question by Nationalist MP Jason Azzopardi.
Both Azzopardi and the minister did not mention the bank by name, but Times of Malta has confirmed that the question referred to Pilatus Bank.
The inquiry, by Magistrate Ian Farrugia, was concluded in December last year but its conclusions were not published.
Times of Malta had reported on December 14 that the voluminous inquiry report had been handed to the State Prosecutor to be assessed for possible criminal action. Sources had said that the report recommended criminal proceedings be initiated against a number of bank personnel.