Money-laundering inquiries stuck in court two years on

Two separate money-laundering inquiries into the Prime Minister’s chief of staff Keith Schembri have yet to be concluded, nearly two years after being assigned to the inquiring magistrates. 
Both inquiries are based on leaked FIAU reports sent to the police’s Economic Crimes Unit for criminal investigation in 2016.
One inquiry, being led by Magistrate Natasha Galea Sciberras, is gathering evidence about the reasons behind two €50,000 payments that passed between accountant Brian Tonna and Mr Schembri.
Analysis by the FIAU found a reasonable suspicion that the payments were intended as a kickback to Mr Schembri on passport sales to three Russians by Nexia BT, the audit firm owned by Mr Tonna.
The other inquiry, spearheaded by Magistrate Josette Demicoli, is analysing €600,000 worth of payments that passed from Mr Schembri to former Allied Group managing director Adrian Hillman through domestic and offshore personal accounts, bank accounts in the names of domestic and offshore companies and through a domestic investment firm.

Both magistrates declined to comment on the progress of their inquiries and whether they have faced any obstacles in their work when questioned by The...