HSBC Bank documents used by Prime Minister’s chief of staff and Brian Tonna may be fraudulent

The bank references Brian Tonna, who has a desk at the Office of the Prime Minister, and Keith Schembri, the Prime Minister’s chief of staff, used to reorganise the shareholding of two secret companies in the British Virgin Islands may be fraudulent.

The ‘information reports’ for Keith Schembri and Malcolm Scerri, who took Schembri’s place as managing director of Kasco Ltd when Schembri became chief of staff to the Prime Minister, are purportedly issued by HSBC Bank Malta plc’s Attard Branch (see address at bottom of document). But though they are dated 27 May 2013, I am informed by people who work at the bank that the Attard branch had closed more than a year earlier – in February 2012 – and was then already no more than an unmanned automated office.

The same bank employees have also informed me that in May 2013 it was HSBC Bank Malta’s practice already to issue all such information reports and references through a central office and not individual branches. It is standard practice though, they add, for references such as these not to be signed.

HSBC Bank Malta’s executive offices are currently closed until Monday morning, when I will try to obtain clarification. However, if the bank wishes to respond or clarify the matter before then, it may contact me at any time between now and Monday on the numbers available in its records, or by email at [email protected].

Bank reference for Keith Schembri

Bank reference for Malcolm Scerri, who Keith Schembri appointed in his stead as managing director of Kasco Ltd when he became chief of staff to the Prime Minister.

Left to right: Brian Tonna, Joseph Muscat, Karl Cini