Assistant Police Commissioner Keith Arnaud told the court on Tuesday that he was told Keith Schembri had promised Yorgen Fenech a presidential pardon after the latter’s request.
The compilation of evidence against former chief of staff Keith Schembri, who stands accused of leaking information from the investigation regarding the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia, continued before Magistrate Claire Stafrace Zammit.
In the previous sitting, the court heard that Keith Schembri informed Yorgen Fenech that Vince Muscat “Il-Koħħu” was talking to the police in a bid to secure a presidential pardon in connection to the Caruana Galizia murder.
On Tuesday afternoon, Assistant Police Commissioner Keith Arnaud testified that Keith Schembri was mentioned for the first time when murder middleman Melvin Theuma was arrested, and during subsequent investigations.
He recounted how on the day of Theuma’s arrest, a box of recordings was seized and in it, a photo of Theuma and Schembri was discovered.
When Yorgen Fenech was informed that Theuma was granted a presidential pardon, he insisted to the police officers that Schembri had also promised him a pardon, Arnaud said.
The assistant commissioner also confirmed that Keith Schembri’s name was never mentioned during the investigations relating to the leaking of information related to the arrest of the Degiorgio brothers in connection with the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia.
The court was presided over by Magistrate Claire Stafrace Zammit.
Lawyers Mark Vassallo and Edward Gatt represented Schembri. The prosecution was led by Superintendent Hubert Cini and Inspector Shaun Friggieri.
Lawyers Jason Azzopardi and Therese Comodini Cachia appeared parte civile.