In a stunning turn of events, the conviction of former Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) Chief, Joseph Cuschieri, has been upheld by the Maltese Court of Appeals. Cuschieri was found guilty of tipping off murder suspect and casino owner, Vincent Buhagiar, in a case that has rocked the Mediterranean island nation.
The saga began in 2018, when Buhagiar was arrested in connection with the murder of his business rival, Giorgio Nazor. Nazor was found dead in his apartment, with signs of a violent struggle. Buhagiar was the prime suspect in the case, with evidence pointing to a long-standing feud between the two men.
Cuschieri, who was serving as the head of the MGA at the time, was accused of using his position to warn Buhagiar of his impending arrest. It was alleged that he had contacted Buhagiar to inform him that the police were closing in on him, giving the suspect a chance to evade capture.
The revelation of Cuschieri’s involvement in the case sent shockwaves through Malta, a country known for its close-knit political and business circles. The former MGA Chief, who had previously been praised for his work in regulating the gambling industry, now found himself at the center of a scandal that threatened to tarnish his reputation irreparably.
Despite his denials of any wrongdoing, Cuschieri was ultimately convicted in 2020 and sentenced to five years in prison. However, he immediately appealed the decision, claiming that he had been unfairly targeted by the authorities.
After a lengthy legal battle, the Maltese Court of Appeals finally handed down its ruling, upholding Cuschieri’s conviction and confirming his sentence. The decision was met with a mixture of relief and disbelief by the Maltese public, who had followed the case with intense interest.
The fallout from the scandal has been significant, with calls for further investigations into corruption within the MGA and other government agencies. The case has also raised questions about the close ties between the gambling industry and the Maltese authorities, and whether adequate measures are in place to prevent such incidents from happening again.
As for Buhagiar, the murder suspect remains at large, with authorities continuing to search for him in connection with Nazor’s death. The case serves as a stark reminder of the dark underbelly of the gambling industry, and the lengths to which some individuals will go to protect their interests.
For Cuschieri, the future remains uncertain as he prepares to serve his prison sentence. Once considered a rising star in Maltese politics, his fall from grace serves as a cautionary tale of the dangers of power and privilege. Only time will tell if he can ever redeem himself in the eyes of a public that once held him in high regard.