Indeed, Labour supporters are fully aware, but in their mind it’s normal to make a buck by whatever means. To them it’s acceptable that their politicians enrich themselves on kickbacks, because to them all politicians are corrupt, if given a chance.

To them the Nationalists are traitors, because they are expected not only to keep silent, but also to help cover up their methods of making money, on the pretext of safeguarding the national interest.

A Labour activist and acquaintance of mine, who is a middle manager at a bank, has been harping since 2008 that Malta’s geographical position should be exploited as it was when Malta was used as a pirate base.

You are confusing a judicial inquiry with a board of inquiry, which is generally led by retired judge, who is no longer constitutionally a judge but an ordinary citizen. Those, yes, can be commissioned by a prime minister or any other cabinet minister.

But a judicial inquiry is commissioned by nobody: the judiciary is independent of the government.

Once money from a criminal activity is transferred, including put into property or any purchase really, it can all be prosecuted under money laundering.

http://www.fiumalta.org/library/PDF/legislation/PMLA.pdf

Yes, but there are too many of them, meaning we need quite a few of their votes. So it is either bribe them or educate them. I think the former is cheaper.

But the consequences for the perpetrators are terrible: you don’t lose your home and your assets for being convicted of theft, but because they’re convicted of money-laundering instead, they do.

Not really. It’s numbers. This way, these manipulators will be able to point to money laundering convictions as a way to show, at the international level, how well the rule of law and anti-laundering legislation in Malta is working.