"New leak puts spotlight on Malta
Island is ‘popular destination’ for Azeri money
The Malta registry data shows Mübariz Mansimov, an Azeri-born billionaire, linked to over 100 companies in Malta as part of his Palmali shipping empire.
Numerous other Azeris show up as being linked to shipping and maritime companies based in Malta.
The Maltese government's anti-money laundering agency (FIAU) classifies Azerbaijan as a high-risk jurisdiction, requiring extra due diligence checks.
In December 2014, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat flew to Azerbaijan together with his chief of staff Keith Schembri, and then Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi.
Last year, Times of Malta reported how a month later, the audit firm Nexia BT, used by Mr Schembri and Dr Mizzi to set up secret companies in Panama, started establishing a number of companies in Malta for Azeri millionaire Manuchehr Ahadpur Khangah.
WikiLeaks cable reports drawn up by the US State Department describe Mr Khangah, who also holds an Iranian passport, as the “frontman” for Azerbaijan Minister for Emergency Situations Kamaladdin Heydarov.
Their company in-formation account was opened at Pilatus Bank, as MFSA records show.
The companies were all suddenly dissolved in December 2015."
Island is ‘popular destination’ for Azeri money
The Malta registry data shows Mübariz Mansimov, an Azeri-born billionaire, linked to over 100 companies in Malta as part of his Palmali shipping empire.
Numerous other Azeris show up as being linked to shipping and maritime companies based in Malta.
The Maltese government's anti-money laundering agency (FIAU) classifies Azerbaijan as a high-risk jurisdiction, requiring extra due diligence checks.
In December 2014, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat flew to Azerbaijan together with his chief of staff Keith Schembri, and then Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi.
Last year, Times of Malta reported how a month later, the audit firm Nexia BT, used by Mr Schembri and Dr Mizzi to set up secret companies in Panama, started establishing a number of companies in Malta for Azeri millionaire Manuchehr Ahadpur Khangah.
WikiLeaks cable reports drawn up by the US State Department describe Mr Khangah, who also holds an Iranian passport, as the “frontman” for Azerbaijan Minister for Emergency Situations Kamaladdin Heydarov.
Their company in-formation account was opened at Pilatus Bank, as MFSA records show.
The companies were all suddenly dissolved in December 2015."
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