Imagine this: a quiet room in the heart of Valletta, 2018. An intelligence officer, poring over documents, stumbles upon a name – Yorgen Fenech – linked to a mysterious company, 17 Black. Fast forward to 2021, and this revelation is now at the centre of Malta’s ongoing investigations into the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.

In a recent court hearing, it was revealed that Fenech’s connection to 17 Black was flagged in an intelligence report as early as 2018. The report, part of the ongoing magisterial inquiry into the murder of Caruana Galizia, placed Fenech at the helm of the company, which was later found to have ties to the controversial Maltese power station deal in Sicily.

17 Black, a company registered in Dubai, was one of the three companies named in the Panama Papers as recipients of payments from the Panama-based company, Tillgate, owned by Nexia BT, the audit firm at the heart of the Egrant scandal. The other two companies were Sleipner and Colbalt, both owned by Fenech’s business partner, the late Nexia BT partner, Brian Tonna.

Back in 2018, as the intelligence officer in Valletta was connecting the dots, another trail was leading from Malta to Dubai. Fenech, a prominent Maltese businessman, was allegedly using his Dubai-based company, 17 Black, to receive payments from Tillgate. The payments, totaling around €15 million, were part of a complex web of transactions involving the Maltese power station deal in Sicily and the Maltese government’s Individual Investor Programme (IIP).

In a twist of fate, it was Caruana Galizia who first exposed the connection between 17 Black and Fenech in her blog, Running Commentary, in 2017. Her revelations, based on leaked documents, would eventually lead to the ongoing magisterial inquiry and the recent court hearing.

The court hearing, held at the end of April, was part of the ongoing trial of Yorgen Fenech, who is accused of masterminding the murder of Caruana Galizia. The revelations about 17 Black and Fenech’s connection to it add another layer to the complex web of allegations surrounding the case.

As the trial continues, Malta watches and waits. The country that once prided itself on its strong economy and progressive policies now finds itself at the centre of a storm, its reputation tarnished by allegations of corruption and murder. The road to recovery is long, and the journey is fraught with challenges. But as Malta looks ahead, one thing is clear – the truth, no matter how complex or uncomfortable, must be pursued.

As Caruana Galizia herself once wrote, “There are crooks everywhere you look now. The situation is desperate.” But so too is the need for justice, for truth, and for accountability. And as Malta continues to navigate these challenging waters, it is clear that the pursuit of these ideals will be a long and arduous journey.