BREAKING: AG prosecutor praised for dedication to money laundering cases found dead

A prosecutor from the Office of the Attorney General has been found dead in his Swieqi residence on Wednesday (today).

Malta Today identified the man as AG lawyer Karl Muscat, citing sources. Times of Malta also identified Dr Muscat in its own reportage.

Just five months ago, Magistrate Donatello Frendo Dimech praised the 43-year-old lawyer for his dedication in ensuring a slew of high-profile money laundering cases continued, despite a strike among prosecutors forming part of the UHM workers’ union, which he did not form part of.

The high-profile cases referred to include against Yorgen Fenech, the business mogul accused of masterminding a plot against now murdered journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, and Vince Buhagiar, the former chairman of Progress Press and Allied Group director accused of laundering kickbacks from Kasco Group, a company belonging to former OPM chief of staff Keith Schembri.

He was also working on a case involving Ryan Schembri, a cousin of Keith Schembri, as owner of the now defunct More Supermarkets.

Sources familiar with Dr Muscat say however that in the past weeks the lawyer was suspended from his position due to unconfirmed allegations of assault.

In a briefing to the press, a police spokesperson said the AG lawyer was pronounced dead by a medical team on the scene after being found at his home by relatives, and that police are not suspecting the involvement of third parties.

He did also say, however, that at this stage “nothing is being excluded.”

An autopsy will be carried out to verify the cause of death.

In its reportage, Malta Today also cited sources who claim Dr Muscat’s house was found turned upside down, but this was not confirmed. The portal later removed the reference.

Investigations are ongoing.