Aron Mifsud Bonnici has been arraigned in Court over tax evasion over a whopping €1.6 million tax evasion case. He accumulated these undeclared proceeds when he served as a government consultant and lawyer to many corrupt government projects including the energy projects under ex-Minister Konrad Mizzi and the Vitals contract. The case in Court is ongoing.
Now, Aron Mifsud Bonnici may very well get away with it all, including avoiding any criminal prosecution thanks to the Labour government’s new law which depanlised tax evasion. The new law was promoted by the government as a way to collect more taxes by strengthening the powers of the Tax Commissioner – this is true. The new law does actually strengthen the powers of the tax commissioner to slap penalties and force payments. However, the new law also depanlised tax evasion and fraud, effectively giving a lot of leeway for suspected criminals like Aron Mifsud Bonnici.
Taxes are a challenge for small and micro businesses in Malta which lack liquidity in a market without critical mass. Many businesses fall back on tax payments out of genuine lack of liquidity and not because they are trying to avoid taxes. The law should have targeted specifically these businesses. However, the new law is now also permitting suspected tax evaders and fraudsters to get away with with their suspected crimes.
Aron Mifsud Bonnici was a trusted lawyer by the administration of Joseph Muscat who involved him in corrupt projects. His rapid accumulation of wealth as a government consultant is at best suspicious. The new law is getting in the way of serious investigations and prosecutions that could lead to the uncovering of serious crimes.
Aron Mifsud Bonnici also conducted business with Yorgen Fenech and received payments from him in bitcoin. The payments were made in this manner to conceal them but were eventually unraveled by a US investigation. He currently has up to €1.6 million frozen by the Court.
The Labour government has passed several laws to soften prosecutions on financial crime, including removing prosecutorial powers to freeze assets, in attempts to cover up and protect its suspected criminal associates. Joe Giglio, Shadow Minister of Justice has been supportive of these reforms.
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