1 00:00:00,280 --> 00:00:04,560 Speaker 1: A note to listeners, this episode contains graphic descriptions of violence. 2 00:00:08,360 --> 00:00:11,119 Speaker 2: The fight against corruption and the decimation of the rule 3 00:00:11,119 --> 00:00:15,000 Speaker 2: of law must continue. Malta is in a dangerous place, 4 00:00:15,680 --> 00:00:17,279 Speaker 2: and now we can no longer say that it is 5 00:00:17,360 --> 00:00:20,319 Speaker 2: corrupt politicians who have brought it to this point, for 6 00:00:20,360 --> 00:00:23,400 Speaker 2: it can no longer be denied that these corrupt politicians 7 00:00:23,400 --> 00:00:32,640 Speaker 2: are a reflection of society. 8 00:00:34,040 --> 00:00:39,520 Speaker 3: Abomi nineteen February twenty nineteen, nearly eighteen months since Daphanese's murder, 9 00:00:40,120 --> 00:00:42,360 Speaker 3: and tonight's a party is in full swing. 10 00:00:46,080 --> 00:00:48,920 Speaker 1: At this point, it's been four months since Jurgen Fanek, 11 00:00:49,280 --> 00:00:53,280 Speaker 1: mister alleged Mastermind, was publicly identified as the owner of 12 00:00:53,320 --> 00:00:56,640 Speaker 1: seventeen Black, a company which planned to make two million 13 00:00:56,720 --> 00:01:01,280 Speaker 1: dollars worth of secret payments to government ministers. At this point, 14 00:01:01,360 --> 00:01:03,920 Speaker 1: two mister Finnick is now a suspect in the official 15 00:01:03,960 --> 00:01:09,520 Speaker 1: police investigation into Dapanese murder. Secretly watched by police, mister 16 00:01:09,560 --> 00:01:12,920 Speaker 1: Fennick is also being discussed at the highest level of government. 17 00:01:14,040 --> 00:01:17,640 Speaker 3: But if Malta is in a political crisis, you wouldn't 18 00:01:17,640 --> 00:01:20,800 Speaker 3: know it on this night. Instead, here in the elegant 19 00:01:20,840 --> 00:01:25,000 Speaker 3: seventeenth century Gaginti Palace, the official country residence of the 20 00:01:25,080 --> 00:01:28,480 Speaker 3: Multese Prime Minister. A small birthday party is on the 21 00:01:28,560 --> 00:01:31,920 Speaker 3: way and it looks like it's going pretty well. 22 00:01:35,319 --> 00:01:38,839 Speaker 1: Tonight, Prime Minister Joseph Mouscat is forty five years old 23 00:01:39,560 --> 00:01:42,479 Speaker 1: and he's celebrating. This is a leaked video from the night. 24 00:01:43,360 --> 00:01:45,839 Speaker 1: You can see the Prime Minister and his wife leading 25 00:01:45,880 --> 00:01:49,200 Speaker 1: the singing of an old Maltese political song with lyrics 26 00:01:49,240 --> 00:01:52,520 Speaker 1: adapted to be about the birthday boy. 27 00:01:54,440 --> 00:01:57,920 Speaker 3: Joseph Moscot is grinning from his ear, bouncing up and 28 00:01:57,960 --> 00:02:01,520 Speaker 3: down in front of the crowd, hand pumping the air. 29 00:02:02,120 --> 00:02:06,200 Speaker 3: His wife, Michelle, elegantly dressed, stands by him, waving a 30 00:02:06,240 --> 00:02:11,240 Speaker 3: bottle of champagne. It's clear everyone is having a great time. 31 00:02:12,360 --> 00:02:15,400 Speaker 1: And why shouldn't they at this point. Joseph Moscatt is 32 00:02:15,400 --> 00:02:18,359 Speaker 1: one of the most successful politicians in modern Maltese history, 33 00:02:18,840 --> 00:02:22,560 Speaker 1: elected to office twice, but this will be the last 34 00:02:22,600 --> 00:02:24,560 Speaker 1: birthday he will spend in Grigeni Bellis. 35 00:02:27,360 --> 00:02:29,920 Speaker 3: By the end of this year, his government will have 36 00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:34,760 Speaker 3: fallen and Joseph Muscat will have resigned in disgrace, brought 37 00:02:34,800 --> 00:02:38,320 Speaker 3: down by the aftermath of Daphne's murder and the corruption 38 00:02:38,480 --> 00:02:39,840 Speaker 3: scandals that led to it. 39 00:02:40,240 --> 00:02:43,200 Speaker 1: And there's another reason this throughout the forty something birthday 40 00:02:43,240 --> 00:02:44,320 Speaker 1: party is memorable. 41 00:02:45,080 --> 00:02:47,800 Speaker 3: He doesn't pop up in the leak video, but there's 42 00:02:47,800 --> 00:02:52,920 Speaker 3: someone else here at the Palace tonight, Jogan Fennik, mister 43 00:02:53,040 --> 00:02:59,000 Speaker 3: alleged mastermind. In spite of all the recent events, he's 44 00:02:59,040 --> 00:03:02,480 Speaker 3: been invited to this intimate birthday gathering for the Prime 45 00:03:02,480 --> 00:03:05,359 Speaker 3: Minister's closest friends and relatives. 46 00:03:05,040 --> 00:03:07,800 Speaker 1: And as Prime Minister Joseph Muscat is well aware of 47 00:03:07,880 --> 00:03:10,640 Speaker 1: Jurgen Fenec's role and the scandal that has shaken his 48 00:03:10,680 --> 00:03:14,200 Speaker 1: government to its core. That scandal is the main reason 49 00:03:14,240 --> 00:03:17,280 Speaker 1: why he has to repeatedly deny that his government has 50 00:03:17,280 --> 00:03:20,720 Speaker 1: a problem with corruption. Definitely would have said this makes sense. 51 00:03:21,400 --> 00:03:24,560 Speaker 1: She believed that Malta's current crop of politicians, and this 52 00:03:24,639 --> 00:03:28,920 Speaker 1: Prime Minister in particular, fundamentally don't see why corruption in 53 00:03:28,960 --> 00:03:31,480 Speaker 1: public life is a problem. So long as it is 54 00:03:31,560 --> 00:03:35,240 Speaker 1: kept secret. Why does it matter if minister has received 55 00:03:35,280 --> 00:03:39,160 Speaker 1: secret payments from rich entrepreneurs and businessmen. It's none of 56 00:03:39,160 --> 00:03:42,200 Speaker 1: your business. And the Prime Minister is also well aware 57 00:03:42,240 --> 00:03:45,200 Speaker 1: that Phenek is also now a suspect in Malta's most 58 00:03:45,240 --> 00:03:46,360 Speaker 1: famous murder. 59 00:03:46,120 --> 00:03:51,360 Speaker 3: Case, and yet here he is at the Prime Minister's birthday. 60 00:03:52,400 --> 00:03:55,680 Speaker 3: Any applications for pardons or plea deals for people arrested 61 00:03:55,720 --> 00:03:58,480 Speaker 3: in the murder case will have to be personally signed 62 00:03:58,480 --> 00:04:02,360 Speaker 3: off by the Prime Minister and his cabinet, and on 63 00:04:02,480 --> 00:04:06,119 Speaker 3: this evening, according to press reports, Jogan Fennec makes sure 64 00:04:06,160 --> 00:04:08,800 Speaker 3: to leave a good impression with the Prime Minister. His 65 00:04:08,920 --> 00:04:14,760 Speaker 3: birthday presence for mister Muscat is thoughtful, personal and very expensive. 66 00:04:15,280 --> 00:04:19,280 Speaker 1: Yogen Fennec hence over three rare vintage bottles of Petrus 67 00:04:19,720 --> 00:04:22,919 Speaker 1: red wine from France, one of the most expensive wines 68 00:04:22,960 --> 00:04:25,320 Speaker 1: in the world. One bottle is from the air of 69 00:04:25,400 --> 00:04:28,360 Speaker 1: Joseph Mousquart's birth, the other two are from the air 70 00:04:28,400 --> 00:04:32,880 Speaker 1: of Mouscat's twin daughter's birth. Total estimated resale value of 71 00:04:33,000 --> 00:04:38,000 Speaker 1: more than six thousand US dollars. Malta's Ministerial Code forbids 72 00:04:38,080 --> 00:04:41,560 Speaker 1: ministers from accepting gifts which quote might be deemed to 73 00:04:41,600 --> 00:04:44,400 Speaker 1: create an obligation, real or imaginary. 74 00:04:45,000 --> 00:04:49,280 Speaker 3: It's worth repeating. All applications for pardons or plea deals 75 00:04:49,279 --> 00:04:52,920 Speaker 3: for people arrested in the Daphne murder case will have 76 00:04:53,000 --> 00:04:56,880 Speaker 3: to be personally signed off by Joseph Muscat and his cabinet, 77 00:04:57,960 --> 00:05:01,560 Speaker 3: and it's also worth repeating a at this point, Yogen 78 00:05:01,640 --> 00:05:06,080 Speaker 3: Fenek is suspected of commissioning the hits against Daphne Please 79 00:05:06,200 --> 00:05:07,280 Speaker 3: yet to be arrested. 80 00:05:08,640 --> 00:05:12,080 Speaker 1: Prime Minister Joseph Mosquat will later claim that he never 81 00:05:12,200 --> 00:05:16,479 Speaker 1: met Jurgen Fenek in February twenty nineteen. Later still, he 82 00:05:16,520 --> 00:05:18,720 Speaker 1: will admit that Fenek was at the birth day party, 83 00:05:19,240 --> 00:05:21,400 Speaker 1: but claimed that the invitation was signed off by law 84 00:05:21,440 --> 00:05:25,640 Speaker 1: enforcement as part of a policy of acting normally towards 85 00:05:25,680 --> 00:05:29,919 Speaker 1: Fenek to avoid arousing his suspicion. Acting normally in this 86 00:05:30,040 --> 00:05:34,479 Speaker 1: case includes accepting thousands of dollars worth of gifts from 87 00:05:34,480 --> 00:05:38,840 Speaker 1: a man known for bribing politicians. Asked about his birthday 88 00:05:38,839 --> 00:05:41,520 Speaker 1: party in an interview with The Times of Malta, Joseph 89 00:05:41,600 --> 00:05:46,279 Speaker 1: Mosquat said, quote on the Gurghanty event, the invite was 90 00:05:46,320 --> 00:05:50,440 Speaker 1: issued following consultations with the Malta Security Services. This is 91 00:05:50,440 --> 00:05:52,280 Speaker 1: not the first time I have been slandered with false 92 00:05:52,279 --> 00:05:55,520 Speaker 1: accusations and even evidence which at the end it transpired 93 00:05:55,600 --> 00:05:59,960 Speaker 1: to be fabricated. I am denying all these unfounded alegations, 94 00:06:00,320 --> 00:06:07,040 Speaker 1: including this latest figurement of someone's very vivid imagination, and. 95 00:06:06,920 --> 00:06:11,320 Speaker 3: On this night, another man allegedly involved in Daphne's murder 96 00:06:11,720 --> 00:06:15,120 Speaker 3: isn't that far away from the party either. Melvin the 97 00:06:15,120 --> 00:06:19,000 Speaker 3: middleman Jorgan Fennik needed a lift to and from the 98 00:06:19,040 --> 00:06:23,760 Speaker 3: Gagerti Palace, and so Melvin himself acted as chauffeur on 99 00:06:23,839 --> 00:06:27,760 Speaker 3: the night. While the alleged architect of Daphnese's murder is 100 00:06:27,839 --> 00:06:32,120 Speaker 3: partying with the Prime Minister, his middleman is waiting outside 101 00:06:32,160 --> 00:06:32,920 Speaker 3: in the car park. 102 00:06:34,800 --> 00:06:42,440 Speaker 1: Welcome to Malta from iHeart Podcasts, Topic Studios and Vespucci. 103 00:06:42,880 --> 00:06:46,240 Speaker 1: I'm Manuel Delia and I'm John Sweeney and this is 104 00:06:46,640 --> 00:06:50,080 Speaker 1: Crooks Everywhere, Episode nine, Escape. 105 00:06:49,800 --> 00:07:02,560 Speaker 4: By Yacht, So You're going. Is one of MARTA's richest men. 106 00:07:02,760 --> 00:07:07,920 Speaker 4: He is one of the bosses of the Hilton chain and. 107 00:07:07,920 --> 00:07:11,520 Speaker 3: Malta Hermann Greek, the editor in chief of the Times 108 00:07:11,560 --> 00:07:12,080 Speaker 3: of Malta. 109 00:07:12,600 --> 00:07:16,160 Speaker 4: He kept pretty much of a low profile and you know, 110 00:07:16,320 --> 00:07:21,320 Speaker 4: not many people knew him before his name cropped up 111 00:07:21,440 --> 00:07:22,960 Speaker 4: in connection with the murder. 112 00:07:23,680 --> 00:07:26,920 Speaker 3: Photographs of Jorgen Fennek show at all six to four 113 00:07:27,040 --> 00:07:32,080 Speaker 3: or more muscular guy bald, something of the well dressed 114 00:07:32,120 --> 00:07:37,320 Speaker 3: FuG about him with a taste for designer sunglasses. 115 00:07:37,040 --> 00:07:38,760 Speaker 1: A cartoon image of a mafioso. 116 00:07:41,040 --> 00:07:46,560 Speaker 4: And he is a person who he was very close 117 00:07:46,600 --> 00:07:51,040 Speaker 4: to many people and governments, and this came across from 118 00:07:51,480 --> 00:07:55,600 Speaker 4: follow up investigations we carried out, and it showed that 119 00:07:55,760 --> 00:08:02,240 Speaker 4: he had he used his contacts in governments for his er. 120 00:08:03,960 --> 00:08:05,920 Speaker 4: You know, I wouldn't say, I need to be careful 121 00:08:05,960 --> 00:08:10,360 Speaker 4: how to word this, but he definitely uses contacts in governments. 122 00:08:13,480 --> 00:08:16,960 Speaker 3: Which is one way of explaining Jorgen fennex presence at 123 00:08:16,960 --> 00:08:20,640 Speaker 3: the Prime Minister's bash at Gagenti Palace. But by the 124 00:08:20,680 --> 00:08:24,680 Speaker 3: time of that party, Jorgen Fennex world is already in 125 00:08:24,760 --> 00:08:31,400 Speaker 3: free full By now, his contacts may also have tipped 126 00:08:31,440 --> 00:08:33,840 Speaker 3: him off that he's being watched as a suspect in 127 00:08:33,920 --> 00:08:37,960 Speaker 3: Daphne's murder. It's not clear if he knows this or not, 128 00:08:38,760 --> 00:08:42,800 Speaker 3: but he is under surveillance and his phone is being tapped. 129 00:08:43,559 --> 00:08:45,719 Speaker 3: And then there is a problem that the men that 130 00:08:45,800 --> 00:08:50,240 Speaker 3: he allegedly hired to organize Daphanese's murder are also beginning 131 00:08:50,280 --> 00:08:50,760 Speaker 3: to crack. 132 00:08:53,960 --> 00:08:56,640 Speaker 1: As we know, the team of contract killers that killed 133 00:08:56,679 --> 00:09:01,600 Speaker 1: Dephanie have already been arrested and are awaiting trial. Jurgen 134 00:09:01,600 --> 00:09:06,040 Speaker 1: Fenex's access to secret information about the investigation was insufficient 135 00:09:06,120 --> 00:09:10,480 Speaker 1: to stop that happening. One of them, Vincent Dekough, has 136 00:09:10,520 --> 00:09:12,760 Speaker 1: now begun talking to the police in the hope of 137 00:09:12,760 --> 00:09:16,400 Speaker 1: a plea deal or pardon. Jurgen Finex's old friend, Melvin, 138 00:09:16,720 --> 00:09:19,920 Speaker 1: the middleman in the crime, has also begun to fold 139 00:09:20,040 --> 00:09:25,599 Speaker 1: under the pressure, depressed, drinking too much and sometimes suicidal. 140 00:09:26,640 --> 00:09:29,840 Speaker 3: A few months before the Prime Minister's birthday party, that 141 00:09:30,000 --> 00:09:34,160 Speaker 3: situation reaches breaking point. Melvin admits to Phenek that he 142 00:09:34,200 --> 00:09:37,840 Speaker 3: has been secretly recording all their conversations about the murder 143 00:09:38,200 --> 00:09:43,640 Speaker 3: and the cover up. He admits that he's betrayed him. 144 00:09:45,720 --> 00:09:49,720 Speaker 1: Probably Also around the same time, Melvin gives Fenek a 145 00:09:49,760 --> 00:09:52,959 Speaker 1: copy of a letter. It's one page long and all 146 00:09:53,000 --> 00:09:57,959 Speaker 1: in capital letters, and it's from the heart. In party reads. 147 00:09:58,160 --> 00:10:01,920 Speaker 5: Ji A Melvin telma At not ill informatio. I Melvin 148 00:10:01,920 --> 00:10:05,280 Speaker 5: Teoma am providing this information that I was the middleman 149 00:10:05,440 --> 00:10:08,720 Speaker 5: in the case concerning Miss Karwana Galicia. I am relaying 150 00:10:08,720 --> 00:10:10,800 Speaker 5: this proof so that you will know who hired me 151 00:10:10,920 --> 00:10:13,440 Speaker 5: and paid for the body in Bomba. I am doing 152 00:10:13,480 --> 00:10:16,880 Speaker 5: this because I realized that these two people Jurgen Finek 153 00:10:16,920 --> 00:10:20,040 Speaker 5: and Keach Cambriel Cosco were working to get rid of 154 00:10:20,120 --> 00:10:22,679 Speaker 5: me as well. So I prepared this proof so that 155 00:10:22,760 --> 00:10:27,079 Speaker 5: if I am eliminated, you will know the entire storya Cola. 156 00:10:28,080 --> 00:10:32,720 Speaker 1: It's a confession but also a threat. Melvin the Middleman 157 00:10:33,000 --> 00:10:36,360 Speaker 1: is cashing in his insurance policy. He wants Jurgen Finek 158 00:10:36,400 --> 00:10:38,720 Speaker 1: to know that at any time he could take any 159 00:10:38,760 --> 00:10:42,520 Speaker 1: of these materials to the police. In fact, Melvin has 160 00:10:42,559 --> 00:10:45,760 Speaker 1: no evidence that Keach Cambri paid for Daphni's murder or 161 00:10:45,840 --> 00:10:48,600 Speaker 1: is planning to kill him, but he does know that 162 00:10:48,679 --> 00:10:51,760 Speaker 1: Cambri is close to Urgen Finek, and it was Cambri 163 00:10:51,800 --> 00:10:54,360 Speaker 1: who organized Melvin's imaginary government job. 164 00:10:55,240 --> 00:10:58,160 Speaker 3: The message is clear, kill me now if you like, 165 00:10:58,960 --> 00:11:02,640 Speaker 3: but the truth will get out, and if I die, 166 00:11:02,840 --> 00:11:04,640 Speaker 3: you will be the main suspect. 167 00:11:09,800 --> 00:11:13,840 Speaker 1: We don't know exactly how Fannek responds initially what this 168 00:11:14,000 --> 00:11:18,520 Speaker 1: moment of complete betrayal feels like. During their decades of friendship, 169 00:11:19,040 --> 00:11:22,479 Speaker 1: the years at the racetrack, the shared hobbies and gambling holidays, 170 00:11:23,000 --> 00:11:26,800 Speaker 1: Melvin the Middleman has always had the junior, more submissive 171 00:11:26,880 --> 00:11:30,920 Speaker 1: role in the relationship, the grateful helper, hoping for favors, 172 00:11:31,760 --> 00:11:35,440 Speaker 1: driving mister Fanneck around Malta, dropping off gifts of food, 173 00:11:35,840 --> 00:11:40,760 Speaker 1: or laying racing bats for him, or allegedly hiring hitman 174 00:11:40,840 --> 00:11:45,720 Speaker 1: to kill a journalist. Now Melvin is reversing all of that, 175 00:11:46,480 --> 00:11:48,920 Speaker 1: telling one of the richest men in Malta that he 176 00:11:49,000 --> 00:11:52,160 Speaker 1: too has power and that he shouldn't be taken for granted. 177 00:11:53,080 --> 00:11:55,920 Speaker 1: That he is prepared to bring them both down if 178 00:11:55,920 --> 00:11:58,600 Speaker 1: he needs to, not the kind of thing that most 179 00:11:58,640 --> 00:12:04,280 Speaker 1: friendships can weather. But whatever each of them are thinking 180 00:12:04,320 --> 00:12:08,120 Speaker 1: at this time, they continue to work together and to communicate. 181 00:12:09,200 --> 00:12:12,920 Speaker 1: Fennec continues to pass on secret information about the police investigation. 182 00:12:13,920 --> 00:12:16,640 Speaker 1: For his part, Melvin doesn't yet carry out his threat 183 00:12:16,679 --> 00:12:19,920 Speaker 1: of sharing his archive of evidence with the authorities. At 184 00:12:19,920 --> 00:12:23,360 Speaker 1: the same time, he continues to do favors for Jorgan Fanec, 185 00:12:23,760 --> 00:12:27,040 Speaker 1: like driving him to the Gurganty birthday party and so. 186 00:12:27,360 --> 00:12:30,320 Speaker 1: On the surface, it seems as though nothing has changed 187 00:12:30,360 --> 00:12:34,840 Speaker 1: between them, but we now know that soon after Jorgan 188 00:12:35,040 --> 00:12:38,400 Speaker 1: alleged mastermind, Fanec has other things on his mind. 189 00:12:50,360 --> 00:12:56,040 Speaker 6: Two grenades, two glock pistols, two machine guns, a scorpion 190 00:12:56,559 --> 00:13:00,120 Speaker 6: which is a type of rifle, and eight hundred bullets 191 00:13:00,160 --> 00:13:03,400 Speaker 6: together with Silence, says for the pistols, this is interesting. 192 00:13:04,520 --> 00:13:08,439 Speaker 3: Jason as a party, Daphnese family's lawyer has a shopping 193 00:13:08,440 --> 00:13:10,880 Speaker 3: list of some of the things that organ Phenac tries 194 00:13:10,960 --> 00:13:14,800 Speaker 3: to buy on the Dark Web. This weapon's buying spree 195 00:13:14,920 --> 00:13:17,920 Speaker 3: comes a few weeks after the organ Phenic discovers that 196 00:13:17,960 --> 00:13:22,320 Speaker 3: Melvin the Middleman has been secretly taping their incriminating conversations 197 00:13:22,960 --> 00:13:27,400 Speaker 3: on the iPhone in his sock. In fact, that particularly 198 00:13:27,480 --> 00:13:31,439 Speaker 3: for weapon buying spree doesn't work, those purchases are blocked, 199 00:13:32,200 --> 00:13:33,160 Speaker 3: but others are not. 200 00:13:34,520 --> 00:13:38,959 Speaker 6: And in another separate purchase, Fennek had received an email 201 00:13:39,400 --> 00:13:43,359 Speaker 6: assuring him that a twenty gram shipment of potessium cyanite 202 00:13:43,600 --> 00:13:47,679 Speaker 6: had been shipped to him that particular morning. Potessium cyanide 203 00:13:48,040 --> 00:13:50,560 Speaker 6: it's a chemical that releases a highly toxic gas. 204 00:13:51,760 --> 00:13:55,160 Speaker 1: To be clear, we don't know what Phanek has in mind, 205 00:13:55,280 --> 00:13:57,240 Speaker 1: or whether he has anyone in mind when he tries 206 00:13:57,280 --> 00:14:01,200 Speaker 1: to buy these things. The Dark Web weapons buying spree 207 00:14:01,280 --> 00:14:04,920 Speaker 1: happens in November twenty eighteen, a year after Daffie's murder 208 00:14:05,320 --> 00:14:08,040 Speaker 1: and around the time that The Times of Malta revealed 209 00:14:08,040 --> 00:14:10,920 Speaker 1: he was the owner of seventeen Black. What we do 210 00:14:11,120 --> 00:14:15,200 Speaker 1: know is that Melvin the middleman certainly fears for his life. 211 00:14:15,920 --> 00:14:19,080 Speaker 1: He must worry that even his archive of secret recordings 212 00:14:19,360 --> 00:14:22,400 Speaker 1: won't be enough to keep him safe from Urgen Fennec. 213 00:14:23,000 --> 00:14:25,320 Speaker 6: I am more than sure that he wanted to get 214 00:14:25,400 --> 00:14:29,320 Speaker 6: ridol melventeoma. No doubt getting rid of Melventella would have 215 00:14:30,000 --> 00:14:33,440 Speaker 6: removed the link between Rinel Fedec mastermind and the de Georgios, 216 00:14:34,240 --> 00:14:35,720 Speaker 6: ensuring his impunity. 217 00:14:36,560 --> 00:14:39,120 Speaker 1: But the sheer number of deadly weapons organ Fennec is 218 00:14:39,120 --> 00:14:41,880 Speaker 1: attempting to buy is also suggestive. 219 00:14:42,520 --> 00:14:45,920 Speaker 6: I have no doubt, I am morally convinced, not just me, 220 00:14:46,560 --> 00:14:51,120 Speaker 6: that those purchases were made to assassinate a number of people, 221 00:14:52,000 --> 00:14:58,080 Speaker 6: including Melvin Tema. So eight hundred bullets, rifles, pistols, grenades 222 00:14:58,600 --> 00:15:03,680 Speaker 6: were definitely not for one person. The poetassium cyanide twenty 223 00:15:03,720 --> 00:15:08,120 Speaker 6: grams twenty grams are more than enough, more than enough 224 00:15:08,320 --> 00:15:10,360 Speaker 6: to kill two people at the least. 225 00:15:10,640 --> 00:15:14,280 Speaker 1: Whatever the purpose of these gruesome purchases, they suggest that 226 00:15:14,360 --> 00:15:17,960 Speaker 1: Jurgen Phenec fees things are rapidly moving towards a crisis. 227 00:15:19,040 --> 00:15:21,960 Speaker 3: The situation with Melvin is on a knife edge. The 228 00:15:22,080 --> 00:15:26,000 Speaker 3: Daphne projects. Journalists are closing in and the multi police 229 00:15:26,400 --> 00:15:30,280 Speaker 3: are now watching the movements of Jugen Fennec and Melvin 230 00:15:30,320 --> 00:15:34,520 Speaker 3: the Middleman, and they're tapping Jugen Fenex's phone. The evidence 231 00:15:34,560 --> 00:15:38,480 Speaker 3: for their involvements in Daphne's murder keeps on mounting. 232 00:15:38,600 --> 00:15:41,280 Speaker 1: And the strain of it all is showing on organ 233 00:15:41,320 --> 00:15:45,680 Speaker 1: phenac tool. As his cocaine habit drastically increases, people start 234 00:15:45,720 --> 00:15:48,560 Speaker 1: to notice him acting erratically, but. 235 00:15:48,600 --> 00:15:54,000 Speaker 3: The key moment of crisis doesn't come. Instead of arrests 236 00:15:54,160 --> 00:15:58,160 Speaker 3: or poisoning by potassium cyanide, there is a strange, uneasy 237 00:15:58,240 --> 00:16:01,800 Speaker 3: stalemate for nearly a year. It seems as though, for 238 00:16:01,840 --> 00:16:05,520 Speaker 3: a while longer the wealth and influence of Jurgen Fennek 239 00:16:05,920 --> 00:16:09,040 Speaker 3: is still enough to hold off the consequences of his 240 00:16:09,160 --> 00:16:10,080 Speaker 3: alleged crime. 241 00:16:10,600 --> 00:16:13,760 Speaker 1: Still, no more arrests in the investigation into Dafanie's murder. 242 00:16:14,720 --> 00:16:20,640 Speaker 1: Melvin the Middleman remains at large and afraid for more 243 00:16:20,680 --> 00:16:24,440 Speaker 1: these anti corruption campaigners like myself, this period is one 244 00:16:24,480 --> 00:16:28,440 Speaker 1: of the real low points after Dafni's death. As journalists, 245 00:16:28,640 --> 00:16:32,520 Speaker 1: we know the police knew about Melvin the Middleman. We 246 00:16:32,680 --> 00:16:36,520 Speaker 1: know they know about Jurgen Fennek. We keep that knowledge 247 00:16:36,520 --> 00:16:40,520 Speaker 1: to ourselves not to tip off suspects. But as months 248 00:16:40,600 --> 00:16:43,640 Speaker 1: roll by, it feels more and more like we are 249 00:16:43,640 --> 00:16:47,040 Speaker 1: being complicit in some conspiracy to let those with money 250 00:16:47,120 --> 00:16:49,000 Speaker 1: and contacts to live above the law. 251 00:16:50,080 --> 00:16:53,040 Speaker 3: Deafhnely's son Matthew becomes so frustrated at the failure to 252 00:16:53,160 --> 00:16:56,200 Speaker 3: arrest Melvin the middleman, but he says he's attempted to 253 00:16:56,280 --> 00:17:00,000 Speaker 3: start spray painting Melvin's name on wolves just to gain 254 00:17:00,040 --> 00:17:00,640 Speaker 3: a reaction. 255 00:17:01,360 --> 00:17:03,560 Speaker 1: It feels as if Daphne's murder will become like so 256 00:17:03,640 --> 00:17:09,200 Speaker 1: many other contract killings in Malta, unsolved and eventually quietly forgotten. 257 00:17:14,760 --> 00:17:17,560 Speaker 1: At this time as well, the second half of twenty nineteen, 258 00:17:18,280 --> 00:17:20,880 Speaker 1: John and I are also writing Murder on the multa 259 00:17:20,960 --> 00:17:24,679 Speaker 1: express our book on Daphne's death, co written with mafia 260 00:17:24,760 --> 00:17:29,919 Speaker 1: expert Carlo Bonini. Ahead of publication, we ask Jurgen Fanek 261 00:17:30,000 --> 00:17:33,000 Speaker 1: via his lawyers to comment on allegations that he and 262 00:17:33,040 --> 00:17:37,440 Speaker 1: his company, the Tomask Group Limited, are involved in illegal activity, 263 00:17:38,119 --> 00:17:40,840 Speaker 1: and we name Jurgen Fanec as one of a number 264 00:17:40,840 --> 00:17:45,160 Speaker 1: of possible culprits in Daphne's murder. His lawyers write back 265 00:17:45,200 --> 00:17:47,000 Speaker 1: to us to say, in part. 266 00:17:47,280 --> 00:17:53,440 Speaker 7: Mister Finnick categorically rejects any allegations, assertions and auth suggestions 267 00:17:53,840 --> 00:17:57,639 Speaker 7: made in his regard as completely baseless and unfounded. 268 00:17:58,320 --> 00:18:01,520 Speaker 1: We also receive legal threats from his lawyers trying to 269 00:18:01,520 --> 00:18:05,160 Speaker 1: dissuade us from publishing. We later discover that Fanek makes 270 00:18:05,200 --> 00:18:08,199 Speaker 1: inquieties with a London law firm to sue me for 271 00:18:08,280 --> 00:18:12,240 Speaker 1: a round seventy million UK pounds around eighty nine million dollars, 272 00:18:12,880 --> 00:18:14,880 Speaker 1: Like I'll ever have that money to pay them by loose. 273 00:18:15,440 --> 00:18:20,400 Speaker 3: Frustration is also building at another point because investigators from 274 00:18:20,440 --> 00:18:23,200 Speaker 3: other European countries have been brought in to help find 275 00:18:23,280 --> 00:18:26,720 Speaker 3: Japanese killers. Europot is now involved. 276 00:18:26,840 --> 00:18:30,120 Speaker 1: That's the agency that coordinates different European police forces when 277 00:18:30,119 --> 00:18:32,400 Speaker 1: their investigations take them across borders. 278 00:18:33,000 --> 00:18:37,280 Speaker 3: Investigators there learn about Melvin the Middleman's role and about 279 00:18:37,280 --> 00:18:42,639 Speaker 3: his archive of secret recordings, and they are incredulous that 280 00:18:42,720 --> 00:18:46,440 Speaker 3: he still remains at large. Eventually, they threaten to walk 281 00:18:46,480 --> 00:18:50,440 Speaker 3: away from the case completely until action is taken, and 282 00:18:50,560 --> 00:18:56,320 Speaker 3: so at last, Multa's police hatch a plan for Melvin's arrest. 283 00:18:57,280 --> 00:19:01,280 Speaker 3: The strategy is this take him down for money laundering initially, 284 00:19:01,760 --> 00:19:06,680 Speaker 3: rather than his role in Daphne's murder directly. The crackdown 285 00:19:07,000 --> 00:19:11,600 Speaker 3: will start dramatically with a surprise police raid, a search, 286 00:19:12,400 --> 00:19:14,560 Speaker 3: and Melvin the Middleman's arrest. 287 00:19:15,080 --> 00:19:19,119 Speaker 1: But perhaps not surprisingly, the underworld is more than ready 288 00:19:19,160 --> 00:19:22,399 Speaker 1: for this. News of the plan is leaked to Melvin 289 00:19:22,440 --> 00:19:26,359 Speaker 1: the Middleman well in advance, just as the original swat 290 00:19:26,400 --> 00:19:29,439 Speaker 1: rate to arrest Dephane's assassins at the Potato Chat had 291 00:19:29,480 --> 00:19:33,360 Speaker 1: been Jurgen Fannek and two of his goal betweens give 292 00:19:33,440 --> 00:19:37,200 Speaker 1: Melvin a precise date to expect the raid. He's given 293 00:19:37,320 --> 00:19:41,280 Speaker 1: a full month's warning. According to Melvin. They even promise 294 00:19:41,359 --> 00:19:43,920 Speaker 1: to list the areas in his property that will be searched, 295 00:19:44,400 --> 00:19:46,320 Speaker 1: so that he can tie the up and ensure nothing 296 00:19:46,320 --> 00:19:51,359 Speaker 1: incriminating is found. According to Daphne's son Paul's research, the 297 00:19:51,440 --> 00:19:54,640 Speaker 1: name of the arresting officer is also passed to Melvin 298 00:19:55,520 --> 00:19:57,400 Speaker 1: and the fact that he will be helpful. 299 00:20:06,480 --> 00:20:10,600 Speaker 3: After the arrest. The interrogation will also be stage managed, 300 00:20:11,160 --> 00:20:16,200 Speaker 3: with questions and suggested answers being sent by contacts inside 301 00:20:16,240 --> 00:20:20,560 Speaker 3: the police to Melvin the Middleman well in advance. Like 302 00:20:20,600 --> 00:20:24,080 Speaker 3: a teasing student, Melvin has been given a chance to 303 00:20:24,160 --> 00:20:28,560 Speaker 3: see the exam paper early until the best answers for 304 00:20:28,720 --> 00:20:30,760 Speaker 3: top marks. 305 00:20:31,560 --> 00:20:35,399 Speaker 1: When the date of the surprise raid is rescheduled, Melvin 306 00:20:35,440 --> 00:20:38,239 Speaker 1: the Middleman is upset. He explains that the new date 307 00:20:38,320 --> 00:20:41,600 Speaker 1: is inconvenient, clashing with the prize draw for his illegal 308 00:20:41,600 --> 00:20:45,080 Speaker 1: lottery and costing him money. See if you can speak 309 00:20:45,080 --> 00:20:47,200 Speaker 1: to him so with it in two weeks, he suggested 310 00:20:47,200 --> 00:20:50,000 Speaker 1: to Jurgen Fanek, almost as if trying to postpone an 311 00:20:50,040 --> 00:20:52,560 Speaker 1: inconvenient work meeting or a dentist's appointment. 312 00:20:52,920 --> 00:20:55,320 Speaker 3: And perhaps this is also a sign of how far 313 00:20:55,560 --> 00:20:58,720 Speaker 3: Melvin the Middleman has come, how the balance of power 314 00:20:58,760 --> 00:21:01,600 Speaker 3: in his relationship with you Organ Fennik, who has also 315 00:21:01,720 --> 00:21:04,600 Speaker 3: since he started collecting evidence of their crimes. 316 00:21:05,040 --> 00:21:08,800 Speaker 1: In the event, Fanek has bad news, he says even 317 00:21:08,880 --> 00:21:11,280 Speaker 1: he has no way to stop or delay the arrest, 318 00:21:11,880 --> 00:21:14,560 Speaker 1: but he will try to lessen the disruption to Melvin's family. 319 00:21:16,920 --> 00:21:20,080 Speaker 1: Yogen Fennec also promises that Melvin the Middleman will be 320 00:21:20,080 --> 00:21:23,399 Speaker 1: bailed quickly and that Fennek himself will be waiting outside 321 00:21:23,440 --> 00:21:27,040 Speaker 1: the prison gates to meet him. Afterwards, they'll get snacks 322 00:21:27,080 --> 00:21:31,199 Speaker 1: to celebrate. He suggests the traditional multi spastries called pastizzi. 323 00:21:31,840 --> 00:21:34,200 Speaker 1: It will be a great reunion between old friends. 324 00:21:34,600 --> 00:21:37,200 Speaker 3: But in order for Melvin to get all this support 325 00:21:37,280 --> 00:21:41,280 Speaker 3: and assistance, there's just one obstacle, one thing that he 326 00:21:41,359 --> 00:21:46,160 Speaker 3: needs to do first. Jason as a party later cross 327 00:21:46,200 --> 00:21:48,560 Speaker 3: examined Melvin the middle Man in court. 328 00:21:49,200 --> 00:21:54,119 Speaker 6: He was repeatedly told to destroy the evidence he had 329 00:21:54,720 --> 00:21:55,760 Speaker 6: on Jurgenzhenek. 330 00:21:56,440 --> 00:22:00,479 Speaker 3: It keeps on being mentioned. Jorgen Fhennic texts him asking 331 00:22:00,520 --> 00:22:02,440 Speaker 3: to ensure that before the arrest. 332 00:22:02,440 --> 00:22:05,120 Speaker 7: Be one hundred percent everywhere is clean. 333 00:22:05,680 --> 00:22:09,640 Speaker 6: And Thomas said, thankfully, I refuse to destroy the evidence 334 00:22:10,400 --> 00:22:14,560 Speaker 6: because it was thanks to those staves that I could 335 00:22:14,600 --> 00:22:18,560 Speaker 6: remain alive and eventually turn state witness. 336 00:22:24,200 --> 00:22:27,280 Speaker 1: When the raid does happen, it takes place earlier than 337 00:22:27,320 --> 00:22:31,359 Speaker 1: the agreed date and with a different officer in charge. 338 00:22:32,240 --> 00:22:35,000 Speaker 1: Melvin's at the wheel and his car is suddenly cut 339 00:22:35,040 --> 00:22:39,440 Speaker 1: off by police vehicles. On the passenger seat is a 340 00:22:39,480 --> 00:22:42,240 Speaker 1: small ice cream box, which he grabs as he's being 341 00:22:42,280 --> 00:22:45,320 Speaker 1: taken in. Inside the box is a jumble of paper 342 00:22:45,400 --> 00:22:50,760 Speaker 1: and USB pen drives his precious evidence archive. And although 343 00:22:50,800 --> 00:22:54,119 Speaker 1: he's being arrested for money laundering, Melvin the Middleman is 344 00:22:54,160 --> 00:22:57,960 Speaker 1: so panicked or so relieved that he immediately says that 345 00:22:58,040 --> 00:23:00,160 Speaker 1: he wants to talk about. 346 00:22:59,800 --> 00:23:07,200 Speaker 3: Them, and with that the dam is broken. You're a 347 00:23:07,280 --> 00:23:09,720 Speaker 3: poll take charge of the ice cream box archive in 348 00:23:09,760 --> 00:23:13,040 Speaker 3: its contents. It's immediately put on a plane to the 349 00:23:13,080 --> 00:23:17,159 Speaker 3: Hague to avoid tampering. Melvin the middleman quickly applies for 350 00:23:17,200 --> 00:23:19,600 Speaker 3: a pardon for all his crimes in exchange for a 351 00:23:19,600 --> 00:23:24,200 Speaker 3: full confession. When Organ Phanic hears this, his own feelings 352 00:23:24,200 --> 00:23:28,560 Speaker 3: of panic and paranoia begin to spiral, perhaps accelerated by 353 00:23:28,640 --> 00:23:32,480 Speaker 3: drug use. He begins to work frantically on a new plan. 354 00:23:33,800 --> 00:23:41,240 Speaker 3: The alleged mastermind Thanak is now going on the run. First, 355 00:23:41,640 --> 00:23:44,679 Speaker 3: he and his brother relocate to a remote villa in 356 00:23:44,720 --> 00:23:48,399 Speaker 3: Malta to figure out the options. Organ Fane's personal doctor 357 00:23:48,760 --> 00:23:52,679 Speaker 3: overhears some of their discussions and later testifies about what 358 00:23:52,840 --> 00:23:59,320 Speaker 3: is said. Apparently, the conversation ranges widely, playing with ideas 359 00:23:59,480 --> 00:24:05,399 Speaker 3: for a place refuge, as though planning a package holiday Tunisia, France, Mexico, Dubai, 360 00:24:06,160 --> 00:24:10,840 Speaker 3: private jet, or exit by fishing boat. Each strategy has 361 00:24:10,880 --> 00:24:15,160 Speaker 3: its pros and its cons. Organ Fennec texts his uncle 362 00:24:15,240 --> 00:24:18,720 Speaker 3: about one concern. In translation, the text reads. 363 00:24:19,040 --> 00:24:21,320 Speaker 7: If I pick it up in the EU, I'll end 364 00:24:21,400 --> 00:24:22,600 Speaker 7: up in Europol's hands. 365 00:24:23,640 --> 00:24:26,800 Speaker 3: Another message shows him agreeing with his brother that there 366 00:24:26,880 --> 00:24:28,440 Speaker 3: is no turning back now. 367 00:24:28,680 --> 00:24:31,680 Speaker 7: It's probably better a why the ways you suggested and 368 00:24:31,920 --> 00:24:32,760 Speaker 7: leave for good. 369 00:24:35,480 --> 00:24:38,879 Speaker 1: Records also show Fenex desperately transferring huge sums of cash 370 00:24:38,920 --> 00:24:41,439 Speaker 1: around the world. At one point, he begins messaging a 371 00:24:41,480 --> 00:24:43,560 Speaker 1: pilot in a private jet company to see if he 372 00:24:43,600 --> 00:24:47,520 Speaker 1: can hire a plane. Jorgen Fanex's uncle warns against this, 373 00:24:48,359 --> 00:24:51,280 Speaker 1: a private jet is now too risky, the airport is 374 00:24:51,320 --> 00:24:54,560 Speaker 1: being watched. Better to leave in Fanex personal Yocht. The 375 00:24:54,600 --> 00:24:57,920 Speaker 1: same doctor describes Fanec as high during these discussions. 376 00:25:01,680 --> 00:25:06,160 Speaker 3: Eventually a plan of escape emerges, using multiple forms of transport, 377 00:25:06,440 --> 00:25:08,600 Speaker 3: crossing several countries in a few days. 378 00:25:10,840 --> 00:25:15,000 Speaker 1: The escape plan is this, late at night, unobserved, Jurgen 379 00:25:15,040 --> 00:25:17,760 Speaker 1: Fannek will board his private yacht in the marina outside 380 00:25:17,800 --> 00:25:22,000 Speaker 1: his luxury apartment. He'll have large amounts of cash with 381 00:25:22,160 --> 00:25:26,080 Speaker 1: him and passports. The yachts captain will make for Pozzalo 382 00:25:26,240 --> 00:25:29,000 Speaker 1: in Sicily on the pretense that the boat needs repairs. 383 00:25:31,119 --> 00:25:36,760 Speaker 1: From Sicily, Fannek will travel by track to France. In Nice, 384 00:25:37,200 --> 00:25:40,320 Speaker 1: an untraceable car will be waiting for him, and from 385 00:25:40,400 --> 00:25:44,159 Speaker 1: there on to the next location. They agree that credit 386 00:25:44,160 --> 00:25:50,439 Speaker 1: cards are to be avoided too much of a security risk. 387 00:25:52,640 --> 00:25:56,920 Speaker 3: The details sound wild and extravagant, a James Bond fantasy 388 00:25:57,040 --> 00:25:59,720 Speaker 3: of going on the run, but I don't think it 389 00:25:59,760 --> 00:26:02,840 Speaker 3: is far fetched. Venneck has a lot going for him 390 00:26:02,880 --> 00:26:05,560 Speaker 3: as a fugitive. He is used to having his wealth 391 00:26:05,880 --> 00:26:10,679 Speaker 3: stashed in anonymous companies and virtual pirate caves around the world, 392 00:26:11,640 --> 00:26:14,600 Speaker 3: and his wealth also has the potential to smooth over 393 00:26:14,720 --> 00:26:17,480 Speaker 3: many of the obstacles that fugitives might face. 394 00:26:18,359 --> 00:26:21,160 Speaker 1: And then there's the question of who will chase him. 395 00:26:21,440 --> 00:26:24,200 Speaker 1: He knows that many in Molta's government and law enforcement 396 00:26:24,560 --> 00:26:27,720 Speaker 1: would rather never take the stand in a trial. Too 397 00:26:27,760 --> 00:26:31,440 Speaker 1: many people are too compromised by what he knows. It's 398 00:26:31,440 --> 00:26:34,520 Speaker 1: already proved hard enough bringing him to justice in Malta, 399 00:26:34,680 --> 00:26:38,399 Speaker 1: let alone from a place like Dubai or Mexico. So 400 00:26:38,520 --> 00:26:41,760 Speaker 1: the real question is can he first make it off 401 00:26:41,800 --> 00:26:42,360 Speaker 1: the island. 402 00:26:52,359 --> 00:26:56,520 Speaker 3: Just before five thirty am on the twentieth November twenty nineteen, 403 00:26:57,320 --> 00:27:01,080 Speaker 3: two years and a month after Daphnese murder, it's about 404 00:27:01,080 --> 00:27:05,600 Speaker 3: an hour before dawn. Organ Fennick is settling into one 405 00:27:05,600 --> 00:27:09,520 Speaker 3: of his two luxury yachts the Jot in the marina 406 00:27:09,600 --> 00:27:12,960 Speaker 3: his family owned in Portomasso. A few meters along the 407 00:27:13,000 --> 00:27:16,520 Speaker 3: quayside is the Blue Elephant Thai restaurant, shuttered for the night, 408 00:27:17,440 --> 00:27:20,800 Speaker 3: the same spot where he first sold Melvin the Middleman 409 00:27:20,920 --> 00:27:25,879 Speaker 3: his plan to murder Daphne. A little further along is 410 00:27:25,880 --> 00:27:29,399 Speaker 3: the entrance to the Portamasso Tower, the tallest building in 411 00:27:29,440 --> 00:27:33,000 Speaker 3: the country built by Fennox's family, where he owns a 412 00:27:33,040 --> 00:27:36,520 Speaker 3: penthouse apartment. A little further still is the Hilton Hotel 413 00:27:37,080 --> 00:27:41,120 Speaker 3: and the taxi concession stand once used by Melvin the Middleman, 414 00:27:42,320 --> 00:27:45,520 Speaker 3: but that is all in the past now. A hold 415 00:27:45,560 --> 00:27:49,280 Speaker 3: doll packed with euro banknotes lies in one corner of 416 00:27:49,320 --> 00:27:54,159 Speaker 3: the yacht. Suitcases with clothes are packed and ready in another. 417 00:27:57,840 --> 00:28:00,600 Speaker 3: The yacht edges slowly out of the marina. 418 00:28:01,440 --> 00:28:04,040 Speaker 1: Fanek spent part of the previous night deep in fon 419 00:28:04,119 --> 00:28:09,199 Speaker 1: conversation with Keach Cambri, his old school friend. Business a 420 00:28:09,240 --> 00:28:12,720 Speaker 1: lie and, according to Melvin the Middleman, the man who 421 00:28:12,720 --> 00:28:15,600 Speaker 1: has helped him cover up his involvement in Daphne's murder. 422 00:28:16,359 --> 00:28:19,560 Speaker 1: Schambrie was pleading for him not to leave, arguing that 423 00:28:19,640 --> 00:28:22,480 Speaker 1: everything could be sorted out if he stayed that it 424 00:28:22,480 --> 00:28:26,760 Speaker 1: will look bad if Fanek leaves. Now, apparently Keach Cambri 425 00:28:26,880 --> 00:28:30,720 Speaker 1: was also sending Prime Minister Joseph Muscat updates. Both of 426 00:28:30,760 --> 00:28:34,240 Speaker 1: them anxious that their friend might be dragging them towards 427 00:28:34,320 --> 00:28:36,960 Speaker 1: further political scandal and outrage. 428 00:28:37,119 --> 00:28:41,520 Speaker 3: But just like Vincent Lekov and Melvin the Middleman before him, 429 00:28:41,840 --> 00:28:46,720 Speaker 3: Jogan Fannek now senses that above all he needs to 430 00:28:46,760 --> 00:28:52,160 Speaker 3: look out for himself. The rules of amoral feminism are 431 00:28:52,200 --> 00:28:56,600 Speaker 3: about to be broken again. Today is a day for 432 00:28:56,720 --> 00:29:03,920 Speaker 3: another day trial. He ignores the pleas of Keish Gambri, 433 00:29:04,640 --> 00:29:06,880 Speaker 3: saying that his lawyer has told him they will come 434 00:29:06,960 --> 00:29:10,000 Speaker 3: up with a narrative to explain his departure. 435 00:29:10,920 --> 00:29:14,280 Speaker 1: As the jaw pulls out into open water, you can 436 00:29:14,320 --> 00:29:17,480 Speaker 1: see the lights of Malta's capital, Valletta on the horizon, 437 00:29:18,400 --> 00:29:22,440 Speaker 1: its ancient fortresses and palaces silhouetted out against the night sky. 438 00:29:23,920 --> 00:29:27,960 Speaker 1: Jurgen Fennek must know that if his plan succeeds, this 439 00:29:28,080 --> 00:29:30,480 Speaker 1: will be the last time he will see the skyline, 440 00:29:31,320 --> 00:29:34,200 Speaker 1: and the last time he will see Malta for many years, 441 00:29:34,920 --> 00:29:37,360 Speaker 1: and perhaps he won't even see his family for a 442 00:29:37,360 --> 00:29:37,960 Speaker 1: long time. 443 00:29:47,440 --> 00:29:51,360 Speaker 3: Before departure, the yachts captain warned Jogen Phannek, but the 444 00:29:51,440 --> 00:29:56,080 Speaker 3: journalists has been snooping around the marina, but later disappeared in. 445 00:29:56,080 --> 00:29:58,440 Speaker 1: A boat like this. The southern coast of Sicily is 446 00:29:58,480 --> 00:30:02,280 Speaker 1: only a short trip away. They head northeast towards the 447 00:30:02,320 --> 00:30:07,920 Speaker 1: slowly lightning sky, no one to stop them. Perhaps it 448 00:30:07,920 --> 00:30:10,560 Speaker 1: seems to Jurgen Fennec that he is once again breaking 449 00:30:10,600 --> 00:30:13,960 Speaker 1: the rules that apply to other people and getting away 450 00:30:13,960 --> 00:30:14,560 Speaker 1: with it again. 451 00:30:18,040 --> 00:30:22,920 Speaker 3: And then it appears a jot approaching fast behind them 452 00:30:22,960 --> 00:30:26,600 Speaker 3: from Malta. Perhaps Jurgen Fhenneic hopes at first that this 453 00:30:26,680 --> 00:30:30,360 Speaker 3: speedboat has nothing to do with him, but as it 454 00:30:30,440 --> 00:30:35,120 Speaker 3: gains he must at last see the military dark gray paint. 455 00:30:35,920 --> 00:30:41,160 Speaker 3: Then hear the loud hailo as they draw close that 456 00:30:41,320 --> 00:30:44,640 Speaker 3: journalist who'd been watching the marina had not left. He'd 457 00:30:44,640 --> 00:30:48,240 Speaker 3: call the police when the yacht pulled out of the harbor. 458 00:30:49,560 --> 00:30:52,480 Speaker 1: When armed officers pull up alongside the jaw and poort 459 00:30:52,520 --> 00:30:55,640 Speaker 1: the vessel, they inform Urgen fhenneg that he is under 460 00:30:55,720 --> 00:30:59,520 Speaker 1: arrest in connection with the murder of journalist deaf Niicarwana. 461 00:30:59,520 --> 00:31:06,320 Speaker 1: Galizzia Fennek replies simply, Ahiarmela mussan do good. 462 00:31:06,880 --> 00:31:45,520 Speaker 8: We should not belong then. 463 00:31:26,840 --> 00:31:32,680 Speaker 1: We don't want to lightful light of Vignia, Northern Malta, 464 00:31:32,880 --> 00:31:38,080 Speaker 1: late twenty twenty three, nearly four years later, a hot, 465 00:31:38,280 --> 00:31:43,280 Speaker 1: dry Multise October. With all the high speed chases, gangster 466 00:31:43,360 --> 00:31:46,920 Speaker 1: betrayals and politically subterfuge, it can be easy to forget 467 00:31:46,960 --> 00:31:49,520 Speaker 1: the woman at the center of the story, but to 468 00:31:49,560 --> 00:31:53,120 Speaker 1: this day, her friends, family and supporters still mourn her. 469 00:31:54,440 --> 00:31:57,840 Speaker 1: This is the field where definitely was murdered, a field 470 00:31:57,840 --> 00:32:01,960 Speaker 1: with a view of the sea over rolling farmland. We're 471 00:32:02,040 --> 00:32:05,040 Speaker 1: not There's a small shrine in the center of the field, 472 00:32:05,560 --> 00:32:07,720 Speaker 1: at the spot where her burning car came to rest. 473 00:32:08,720 --> 00:32:11,440 Speaker 1: It's decorated with a picture of Daphne and a small 474 00:32:11,520 --> 00:32:15,920 Speaker 1: Maltese flag. Every year, on the anniversary of Daphne's death, 475 00:32:16,520 --> 00:32:19,920 Speaker 1: these people gather here, a group of her closest friends, 476 00:32:20,040 --> 00:32:24,600 Speaker 1: family and supporters, to mark her passing and remember her 477 00:32:24,640 --> 00:32:30,480 Speaker 1: life and achievements. Today is the sixth anniversary. The celebration 478 00:32:30,600 --> 00:32:33,640 Speaker 1: is open to all, but it is always led by women. 479 00:32:37,800 --> 00:32:42,280 Speaker 9: I knew Daphne personally. Sons were the same age, and 480 00:32:42,320 --> 00:32:45,320 Speaker 9: we used to meet when we're young matters. I used 481 00:32:45,320 --> 00:32:50,600 Speaker 9: to read her blogs and I am distraught at the 482 00:32:50,640 --> 00:32:54,360 Speaker 9: state of our country, how our beautiful little island has 483 00:32:54,440 --> 00:32:59,320 Speaker 9: been completely ruined by corruption. And it's very very important. 484 00:32:59,360 --> 00:33:05,080 Speaker 9: That's what Daphne went through and even died for, is 485 00:33:06,040 --> 00:33:08,400 Speaker 9: very much there people's minds, you know. 486 00:33:08,360 --> 00:33:09,680 Speaker 4: It's easy to switch off. 487 00:33:09,720 --> 00:33:13,560 Speaker 9: Six years have gone by, and it's quite incredible that 488 00:33:13,680 --> 00:33:19,120 Speaker 9: everything she came out with it is even more true today. 489 00:33:24,080 --> 00:33:27,520 Speaker 3: In the years since Daphane's death, some things have changed. 490 00:33:28,280 --> 00:33:32,040 Speaker 3: The government of Joseph Muscat collapsed after Jorgan Phenix's arrest, 491 00:33:32,680 --> 00:33:36,480 Speaker 3: pushed out by something close to a popular uprising. 492 00:33:36,600 --> 00:33:40,280 Speaker 1: Huge protests every couple of days, like nothing anyone in 493 00:33:40,280 --> 00:33:42,280 Speaker 1: the country had seen in living memory. 494 00:33:42,840 --> 00:33:46,760 Speaker 3: Officially, Joseph Muscat has retired from politics and he maintains 495 00:33:46,760 --> 00:33:50,480 Speaker 3: his innocence. For many people, his premiership will always be 496 00:33:50,560 --> 00:33:54,440 Speaker 3: associated with the corruption scandals that led to Daphne's assassination. 497 00:33:55,680 --> 00:33:58,840 Speaker 3: At the time of recording, Jorgan Fennick is behind bars 498 00:33:58,840 --> 00:34:03,560 Speaker 3: awaiting trial for compley in Daphne's murder. The de Giorgio brothers, 499 00:34:03,960 --> 00:34:07,120 Speaker 3: two of the three assassins, have been found guilty of 500 00:34:07,200 --> 00:34:11,840 Speaker 3: murder and sentenced to forty years in jail. The third assassin, 501 00:34:12,239 --> 00:34:15,560 Speaker 3: Vincent the Koff, was given a reduced sentence of fifteen 502 00:34:15,600 --> 00:34:18,279 Speaker 3: years for murder as part of the plea deal for 503 00:34:18,400 --> 00:34:22,799 Speaker 3: testifying against his accomplices. Robert Addeus and Jemmy Veller are 504 00:34:22,840 --> 00:34:26,640 Speaker 3: awaiting trial for supplying the bomb used in Daphne's murder. 505 00:34:27,040 --> 00:34:32,160 Speaker 3: Both men have pleaded not guilty. Melvin Delmer received a 506 00:34:32,239 --> 00:34:35,959 Speaker 3: pardon for his confession. On the twenty first of July 507 00:34:36,080 --> 00:34:38,760 Speaker 3: twenty twenty, a day before he was due to appear 508 00:34:38,800 --> 00:34:42,920 Speaker 3: in court to continue his testimony about Daphne's murder, police 509 00:34:42,920 --> 00:34:45,760 Speaker 3: were called to his home. He was found with multiple 510 00:34:45,800 --> 00:34:49,600 Speaker 3: stab wounds to his abdomen and a slip throat. He 511 00:34:49,680 --> 00:34:52,480 Speaker 3: was under official police protection at the time due to 512 00:34:52,600 --> 00:34:56,400 Speaker 3: fears for his safety. He survived and indicated that the 513 00:34:56,440 --> 00:35:01,040 Speaker 3: injuries were a suicide attempt. A chief of staff in 514 00:35:01,080 --> 00:35:04,600 Speaker 3: the office of the Prime Minister, Keith Schenbrie, stood down 515 00:35:04,600 --> 00:35:08,560 Speaker 3: from government soon after his friend Jogen Fennek was arrested. 516 00:35:09,640 --> 00:35:13,040 Speaker 3: Skembri himself was arrested and later released as part of 517 00:35:13,080 --> 00:35:18,200 Speaker 3: the murder investigation. In twenty twenty one, Keith Schenbrie was 518 00:35:18,239 --> 00:35:23,200 Speaker 3: separately charged with corruption and money laundering. Schmbrie denies all charges, 519 00:35:23,239 --> 00:35:26,440 Speaker 3: and proceedings in his cases are still ongoing at the 520 00:35:26,440 --> 00:35:29,879 Speaker 3: time of recording. In twenty twenty one, the US State 521 00:35:29,920 --> 00:35:34,320 Speaker 3: Department said that it was publicly designating Keithenbri and Conrand 522 00:35:34,360 --> 00:35:38,880 Speaker 3: Mitzi due to their involvements in significant corruption. That means 523 00:35:38,920 --> 00:35:42,640 Speaker 3: that both men and their immediate families are banned from 524 00:35:42,680 --> 00:35:44,120 Speaker 3: travel to the United States. 525 00:35:44,719 --> 00:35:47,680 Speaker 1: Chris Cardoona, the former minister whose last happy day in 526 00:35:47,680 --> 00:35:52,800 Speaker 1: politics was allegedly spent in a German brothel, has left politics, 527 00:35:53,520 --> 00:35:58,279 Speaker 1: although recently threatened to return. Why not, he said he 528 00:35:58,400 --> 00:36:01,200 Speaker 1: was never charged with involvement in the mayor there. Chris 529 00:36:01,280 --> 00:36:04,480 Speaker 1: Cardona did not respond to our requests for an interview. 530 00:36:04,520 --> 00:36:09,200 Speaker 3: None of the three assassins Chinese George Georgia, Alfred the 531 00:36:09,239 --> 00:36:14,120 Speaker 3: Bean Georgia, or Vincent Leakoff Muscat responded to requests for 532 00:36:14,160 --> 00:36:19,560 Speaker 3: an interview for this podcast. Melvin the Middleman's representatives initially 533 00:36:19,600 --> 00:36:23,719 Speaker 3: agreed to consider our interview request, but eventually stop responding 534 00:36:23,719 --> 00:36:28,880 Speaker 3: to us. A representative of Jogen Finnik declined our requests 535 00:36:28,880 --> 00:36:31,840 Speaker 3: for an interview, searching his upcoming trial. 536 00:36:32,360 --> 00:36:35,400 Speaker 1: Conrad Amtsi did not respond to our requests for an interview. 537 00:36:35,920 --> 00:36:40,240 Speaker 1: Keach cambrideclined our request for an interview. Former Prime Minister 538 00:36:40,320 --> 00:36:44,319 Speaker 1: Joseph Mouscart's representative declined our request for an interview, with 539 00:36:44,400 --> 00:36:48,399 Speaker 1: the following message, Doctor Mouscart does not feel that mister 540 00:36:48,480 --> 00:36:52,040 Speaker 1: Delilla and mister Sweeney can in any way be considered 541 00:36:52,080 --> 00:37:13,520 Speaker 1: honest brokers in conveying a fair account of events. Some 542 00:37:13,680 --> 00:37:17,960 Speaker 1: things in Malta today have not changed. The Labor Party 543 00:37:18,000 --> 00:37:22,120 Speaker 1: remains in power. New corruption scandals involving huge sums of 544 00:37:22,160 --> 00:37:25,960 Speaker 1: money continue to be on earthed. The murder trial of 545 00:37:26,040 --> 00:37:30,360 Speaker 1: Jurgen Fennec has been repeatedly postponed, just as for Deafni 546 00:37:30,680 --> 00:37:35,200 Speaker 1: has been delayed again and again. The culture that Deafney 547 00:37:35,200 --> 00:37:39,080 Speaker 1: warned about that of two Maltas both so opposed and 548 00:37:39,120 --> 00:37:43,799 Speaker 1: divided that no shared national goals are possible. That continues. 549 00:37:44,600 --> 00:37:48,759 Speaker 1: The tendency towards a moral feminism, the abdication of all 550 00:37:48,800 --> 00:37:53,400 Speaker 1: moral obligations except loyalty to one's group, that also continues 551 00:37:53,440 --> 00:37:58,600 Speaker 1: in many instances. Officially, many of Deaphanie's allegations about corruption 552 00:37:58,680 --> 00:38:03,680 Speaker 1: and government are being investigated, but months and years roll by, 553 00:38:04,320 --> 00:38:08,759 Speaker 1: and hope of any outcome fates. But most of all, tragically, 554 00:38:09,280 --> 00:38:12,000 Speaker 1: people in Malta continue to fear the consequences of speaking 555 00:38:12,000 --> 00:38:15,960 Speaker 1: the truth in public. The freedom that Daphnie embodied is 556 00:38:16,000 --> 00:38:18,680 Speaker 1: still under threat, just as it was in this field 557 00:38:18,880 --> 00:38:19,600 Speaker 1: six years ago. 558 00:38:20,680 --> 00:38:23,759 Speaker 2: I always feel that she's almost more powerful. Her words 559 00:38:23,760 --> 00:38:26,560 Speaker 2: are more powerful beyond the grave, because we keep going 560 00:38:26,600 --> 00:38:28,759 Speaker 2: back to them, and we keep saying she was right. 561 00:38:28,880 --> 00:38:29,480 Speaker 3: She was right. 562 00:38:32,840 --> 00:38:36,080 Speaker 1: At the hour Daphne's murder took place, and the baking 563 00:38:36,120 --> 00:38:40,920 Speaker 1: afternoon sun, as birds circle overhead and the Mediterranean gleams 564 00:38:40,960 --> 00:38:45,200 Speaker 1: in the distance, the simple ceremony is held, beginning with 565 00:38:45,239 --> 00:38:59,640 Speaker 1: a shirt silence of remembrance. There is one entry in 566 00:38:59,680 --> 00:39:03,200 Speaker 1: duney blog that I often return to. It's a call 567 00:39:03,239 --> 00:39:06,040 Speaker 1: for her readers not to be downhearted, even when the 568 00:39:06,080 --> 00:39:10,920 Speaker 1: odds seem stacked against justice, fairness and truth. It was 569 00:39:10,960 --> 00:39:14,960 Speaker 1: posted just over four months before her death. When I 570 00:39:15,040 --> 00:39:17,320 Speaker 1: read it, I still hear her voice. 571 00:39:19,080 --> 00:39:23,360 Speaker 2: June fifth, twenty seventeen. I know you don't have to 572 00:39:23,360 --> 00:39:26,640 Speaker 2: tell me. It's the reason I do it that this 573 00:39:26,719 --> 00:39:30,360 Speaker 2: website has, over the last four years become a gathering 574 00:39:30,400 --> 00:39:34,600 Speaker 2: post or rallying point for decent people who feel frightened 575 00:39:34,640 --> 00:39:39,920 Speaker 2: and threatened at the rise, growth, and spread of a morality. 576 00:39:40,520 --> 00:39:44,520 Speaker 2: You come here to feel normal in a sea of insanity. 577 00:39:45,239 --> 00:39:47,400 Speaker 2: You want reassurance that it is not you who is 578 00:39:47,400 --> 00:39:50,160 Speaker 2: in the wrong because you think people who do serious 579 00:39:50,239 --> 00:39:53,600 Speaker 2: wrong should not be in government. No, you are not 580 00:39:53,719 --> 00:39:56,759 Speaker 2: wrong because you think the police should act. No, you 581 00:39:56,800 --> 00:39:59,280 Speaker 2: are not wrong to feel sick when the mob cheers 582 00:39:59,320 --> 00:40:03,080 Speaker 2: a corrupt bea officer. Of course you are not. You 583 00:40:03,160 --> 00:40:03,600 Speaker 2: are right. 584 00:40:04,880 --> 00:40:05,239 Speaker 8: Of course. 585 00:40:05,280 --> 00:40:07,960 Speaker 2: It is wrong to vote for corruption. Of course. It 586 00:40:08,000 --> 00:40:10,759 Speaker 2: is wrong to vote so as to put corrupt politicians 587 00:40:10,800 --> 00:40:15,960 Speaker 2: into power. It is very wrong. The fight against corruption 588 00:40:16,280 --> 00:40:19,320 Speaker 2: and the decimation of the rule of law must continue. 589 00:40:21,320 --> 00:40:23,359 Speaker 2: There is something else I should say before I go. 590 00:40:24,920 --> 00:40:28,640 Speaker 2: When people taunt you or criticize you for being negative, 591 00:40:29,640 --> 00:40:31,799 Speaker 2: or for failing to go with their flow, for not 592 00:40:32,160 --> 00:40:36,799 Speaker 2: adopting an attitude of benign tolerance to their excesses, bear 593 00:40:36,840 --> 00:40:41,120 Speaker 2: in mind always that they, and not you, are the 594 00:40:41,160 --> 00:40:48,080 Speaker 2: ones who are in the wrong. 595 00:41:02,480 --> 00:41:06,520 Speaker 3: Next time, In our final episode of our investigation into 596 00:41:06,560 --> 00:41:10,200 Speaker 3: the killing of Daphne Carojuana Galiticia, we look at the 597 00:41:10,239 --> 00:41:14,040 Speaker 3: latest developments in the murder trial of Jogen Fennek and 598 00:41:14,080 --> 00:41:18,120 Speaker 3: a corruption case against the then Prime Minister Joseph Muscat. 599 00:41:33,640 --> 00:41:38,000 Speaker 1: Crooks Everywhere is a production of iHeart Podcasts, Topic Studios 600 00:41:38,040 --> 00:41:42,160 Speaker 1: and Vespucci. It's reported and hosted by me Manuel Delia 601 00:41:42,600 --> 00:41:46,960 Speaker 1: and John Sweeney. The senior producer is Leo Hornack. The 602 00:41:47,000 --> 00:41:51,640 Speaker 1: producer is Maddi Hikeish. Chris Denesh Kumar is the assistant producer. 603 00:41:52,280 --> 00:41:57,200 Speaker 1: Acting direction by Christopher Houten. Maltese voices by Mikhail Basmajan 604 00:41:57,360 --> 00:42:01,320 Speaker 1: and Pierre Staffraj. The executive produce users are Johnny Galvin 605 00:42:01,600 --> 00:42:06,200 Speaker 1: and Daniel Turken at Vespucci, Christi Gressman at Topic Studios, 606 00:42:06,520 --> 00:42:11,040 Speaker 1: Katina Norvel and Nikki Etoor at iHeart Podcasts. Ancienna Miller. 607 00:42:11,719 --> 00:42:15,800 Speaker 1: Marketing leader is David Wassermann. Audio recording by Tom Berry 608 00:42:15,840 --> 00:42:19,560 Speaker 1: at Wardoor Studios. Audio mix and sound design by Joel Cox. 609 00:42:20,280 --> 00:42:25,640 Speaker 1: Special thanks to Andrew Botchcardona, Alessandra di Crespo, Eddie Isles, 610 00:42:25,680 --> 00:42:27,160 Speaker 1: and Andrew Carwana Galizia