MALTESE LEADER ALSO UNDER MONEY LAUNDERING INVESTIGATION IN DUBAI BY DFSA

Daniel Farrugia & Rosianne Cutajar

Senior Maltese politician and Member of her country's Parliament, ROSIANNE CUTAJAR, whom we  revealed yesterday was being investigated for money laundering and corruption by her country Financial Crimes Unit, reportedly has other, even more serious, legal problems. Our sources indicate that she is also under investigation by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), also on suspicion of money laundering. Information on ongoing criminal investigations is typically restricted, but we received this information from an established and credible source in Malta.

Cutajar allegedly has been using an account in someone else's name to hide bribes and kickbacks; allegedly, she is using an account controlled by LINO FARRUGIA, her lover's father, most likely that of one of his dodgy shell companies. Then senior Farrugia owns a luxurious apartment in the Dubai Marina reportedly worth millions of dollars. We have serious doubts that Cutajar has declared these cash deposits to Malta's tax authorities.

One of our Labour Party sources advises that Prime Minister ROBERT ABELA is closely monitoring the Maltese Financial Crimes Cutajar investigation, which he has access through by close associates posted there, and used that information to remove her from the Labour Party; she now sits as a independent Member.

Some observers are asking whether Cutajar is charged in the UAE will serve as a test of the effectiveness of the DFSA when dealing with high-profile corrupt PEPs, (Politically Exposed Persons),  especially when the target is a prominent individual who makes large cash deposits that greatly exceed her known assets and salaries. Many Maltese politicians linked to corruption frequently visit Dubai, and are suspected hiding the proceeds of crime there, but none have been known to have been charged with financial crimes in the Emirates.