The Puttinu Cares Foundation, which helps families of children suffering from cancer, is the biggest beneficiary of donations made by millionaires wanting to buy a Maltese passport.
Statistics obtained from the government following a request under the Freedom of Information Act, show that, until last month, Puttinu received more than €1 million in donations from new Maltese citizens who took advantage of the possibility of making handouts to NGOs to show their ‘bond’ with Malta.
According to the cash-for-passports scheme, introduced in 2013, third country nationals wanting to obtain Maltese citizenship need to satisfy a number of criteria, mainly financial, including the payment of €650,000 per passport and the purchase or rent of property in Malta.
One of the provisions of the scheme aimed at millionaires, also caters for the possibility for foreign individuals making a charitable donation to a Maltese NGO. According to the rules, this will earn applicants more points in showing their close ‘bond’ to the island.
Despite the controversial nature of the scheme, criticised by various quarters including international organisations, Maltese NGOs have enjoyed a bonanza of donations,…
