Brian Tonna in the service of Yorgen Fenech

In hindsight, this photo may suggest an obvious connection, but during the Public Accounts Committee, Brian Tonna fidgeted, fumbled, and declared ignorance of Yorgen Fenech’s corrupt schemes with Keith Schembri. Most notably, he denied knowing that 17 Black belonged to Yorgen Fenech.

This is highly unlikely, however, not only because Brian Tonna had set-up Keith Schembri’s offshore companies which were to receive payments from 17 Black, but also because Brian Tonna himself had a good and close relationship with Yorgen Fenech as much as he had with Keith Schembri and Joseph Muscat. This relationship may have started and blossomed when Labour was in power, but Brian Tonna can not deny this close relationship given that he was also in the service of Yorgen Fenech and at one point in time was also helping him with Tumas Group’s bid for a land reclamation project at Portomaso.

Keith Schembri may have also been the person who had recommended Brian Tonna to serve as their group’s corrupt account (with the group being Joseph Muscat’s cabal). Keith Schembri himself inferred this during the hearing of the Public Accounts Committee.

Brian Tonna and Yorgen Fenech are even seen in images drinking together as if they were buddies. I’m sure that during these joyful drinking sessions, Brian Tonna never brought up the subject of 17 Black.