Asset Recovery CEO selection goes back to square one
The process to select a new head of the agency responsible for confiscating criminals’ assets has been started again after the justice ministry rejected the preferred candidate. The Asset Recovery Bureau has not had a chief executive officer for nearly a year, despite it being one of the worst performers in a review of the country’s anti-money laundering regime. In June, Times of Malta reported how Police Superintendent George Cremona, who heads the force’s counter-terrorism unit, had been selected as the preferred candidate to lead the entity. However, sources at the agency said Justice Minister Edward Zammit Lewis had flagged concerns that Cremona may have a conflict of interest in taking over the role as he is married to Magistrate Monica Vella. A member of the ARB board, speaking on condition of anonymity, had said that they saw no issue with the matter and expressed frustration at the move to reject a “well-qualified and suitable candidate”. Contacted for comment, Zammit Lewis would only say that he was consulting with the ARB on the matter. The minister is obliged at law to consult the board before taking a final decision, however, he can exercise his discretion and...