The case surrounding Melvin Theuma’s phantom job has concluded with the acquittal of all five accused individuals. The defendants, including Keith Schembri, Yorgen Fenech, Sandro Craus, Anthony Ellul, and Anthony Muscat, were facing charges of theft and misappropriation of public funds. Theuma, a key witness, had previously testified that he was given a job at the Housing Maintenance and Embellishment Co Ltd without actually working, as part of a deal related to the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia.
The prosecution had attempted to reintroduce Theuma as a witness multiple times, but the court ultimately excluded his testimony due to his refusal to undergo cross-examination. The court ruled that the exclusion of Theuma’s testimony was necessary, citing legal principles and the principle of “equality of arms”. With the prosecution’s case weakened, the court acquitted all five accused individuals.
