Offshore Leaks Record

Malta ยท Panama Papers

Konrad Mizzi: offshore leaks and what happened next

Charged As of April 2026, Mizzi was awaiting trial in the 17 Black and Electrogas case, which arose from payments the Panama Papers indicated were planned to his Panama company, and had pleaded not guilty. He also faces the separate Vitals hospitals case, which is not a Panama Papers matter. No conviction had been reported.2,5,6

Being named in a leak is not evidence of wrongdoing, and owning an offshore company can be legal. Each record sets out what was reported, the person's response, and what official action, if any, followed.

What was reported

ICIJ reported that in July 2013, four months after Mizzi joined the government, a Maltese accounting firm bought Panama companies from Mossack Fonseca including Hearnville Inc., and that in June 2015 he set up a New Zealand trust holding Hearnville's shares, with his wife and children as beneficiaries.1

Response

A law firm representing Mizzi said Hearnville was acquired to hold a London property owned with his wife, had no assets or bank accounts, and was declared in his 2015 ministerial declaration of assets, ICIJ reported. Mizzi asked Malta's tax authorities to audit his affairs and said he would close Hearnville after the audit.1

What happened afterwards

  1. Charged, Maltese prosecution following a magisterial inquiry (Vitals hospitals concession)AFP reported that Mizzi was charged with accepting bribes, corruption in public office and money laundering over the 2015 hospitals concession to Vitals Global Healthcare. This case is not a Panama Papers matter and is recorded only for completeness. AFP reported no response from Mizzi.2
  2. Inquiry concluded, Magistrate Charmaine Galea (magisterial inquiry)A magisterial inquiry into payments linked to the Dubai company 17 Black concluded and recommended charges against Mizzi, Keith Schembri and others, MaltaToday reported. This case is linked to the Panama Papers, because the leak indicated that their Panama companies were to receive 150,000 euros a month from 17 Black.3
  3. Charged, Court of Magistrates, Malta (Magistrate Rachel Montebello)Mizzi was charged with offences linked to the Electrogas power station project, following the 17 Black inquiry, and pleaded not guilty, MaltaToday and The Malta Independent reported.4,7
  4. Court ruled, Court of Magistrates, Malta (Magistrate Rachel Montebello)In the 17 Black and Electrogas case the magistrate found enough prima facie evidence for the accused to stand trial, MaltaToday reported. This is a committal decision, not a finding of guilt.5

Sources

  1. ICIJ, Konrad Mizzi (Offshore Leaks stories) (2016)
  2. Channels TV (AFP), Malta ex-PM, top officials charged in sweeping corruption probe (AFP) (May 2024)
  3. MaltaToday, Magistrate concludes 17 Black inquiry: Keith Schembri, Konrad Mizzi to be charged (January 2025)
  4. MaltaToday, Electrogas: Court to rule whether Schembri, Mizzi and Fenech will stand trial (February 2025)
  5. MaltaToday, 17 Black: Enough evidence for accused to face money laundering trial (February 2025)
  6. The Daphne Caruana Galizia Foundation, 10 years after the Panama Papers, we need convictions for high level corruption (3 April 2026)
  7. The Malta Independent, 17 Black: Keith Schembri, Konrad Mizzi, Yorgen Fenech and Nexia partners plead not guilty (5 February 2025)