At least €200,000 were channelled through Zenith Finance, formerly MFSP, from British Virgin Islands offshore firms owned by former OPM chief of staff Keith Schembri and Nexia BT s Brian Tonna, a court heard on Wednesday.
This detail emerged during court proceedings against former Zenith directors Matthew Pace and Lorraine Falzon who on Wednesday were back in court as the compilation of evidence against them and the company they represented, continued.
Both are pleading not guilty to a series of financial crimes, including money laundering and forgery of documents and have been granted bail pending proceedings.
A court-appointed accountancy expert tasked with administering and preserving the assets of Zenith Finance Limited, presented his findings on Wednesday, however, his overview was banned from publication in light of sensitive information it contained.
Zenith Finance owner Matthew Pace in court over money laundering charges
Compilation of evidence against Zenith Finance owner Matthew Pace and director Lorraine Falzon continues
27 April 2021, 8:58am
by Matthew Agius
Matthew Vella 10:09 AG lawyer is Andrea Zammit. The court is now thrashing out the date for the next sitting; the Court insists that the clock is ticking.
Matthew Vella 10:07 Lawyer Claudette Fenech from the Malta Business Registry presents a certified copy of Zenith’s registration certificate as MFSP and other documents relating to the present day and the involvements of Falzon and Pace in the company. There was no change in the UBOs of the company. However, Pace and Falzon resigned from Zenith in 2021. The witness also presents documentation about their involvement in other companies. The witness steps off the stand.
Prosecution ordered to streamline evidence in case against Zenith directors timesofmalta.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from timesofmalta.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Updated on
26/04/2021 at 18:57
By means of a decree of the Court on 13 April 2021 relating to Zenith Finance Limited (‘Zenith Finance’), Hector J. Spiteri was appointed as administrator of Zenith Finance to take control of the business of Zenith Finance as well as to preserve all the assets of Zenith Finance, the MFSA said in a notice,
Zenith was in the news recently as Zenith Finance’s Matthew Pace and Lorraine Falzon were charged with, amongst other things, money laundering, when police arraigned a total of 11 people – including former OPM chief of staff Keith Schembri.
As a consequence of that court order, the Malta Financial Services Authority will be terminating, with effect from 28 April 2021, the appointment of Stephen Paris as Competent Person for Zenith Finance on the basis of the fact that the designated role and responsibilities of Mr Paris will overlap those will be undertaken by Mr Hector J. Spiteri.
Stephen Paris, appointed by MFSA last month to run Zenith Finance has been replaced by court-appointed administrator Hector Spiteri.
In March the Malta Financial Services Authority suspended the operations of Zenith Finance Limited and Zenith (Tied Insurance Intermediary) Limited after its owners Matthew Pace and Lorraine Falzon were granted bail over money laundering charges.
The two, along with their advisory firm, previously known as MFSP, have been charged with a slew of other financial crimes on Saturday. Their case is linked to alleged graft involving former OPM chief of staff Keith Schembri and former managing directors of Allied Newspapers Adrian Hillman and Vincent Buhagiar.