Robert Abela lent his Żejtun address to rich Russian passport hopefuls
Robert Abela rented out his Żejtun villa to two Russian passport applicants without verifying if they really lived there, Times of Malta can reveal.
Prospective Maltese passport buyers are meant to abide by strict residency requirements, including living in a rented or purchased property to prove they have established a “genuine link” with the country.
It appears, however, that Abela joined the ranks of scores of landlords who took advantage of phantom rents to prospective passport buyers, meaning he raked in thousands of euros by renting out his villa, built in an ODZ, to someone who likely rarely, if ever, set foot in it.
At the time, Abela’s law firm Abela Advocates were agents for the golden passports scheme.
Research by Times of Malta shows two Russian individuals from Moscow, named Alexey and Natalia, were at a point registered at Abela’s Żejtun address.
A visit to the villa by Times of Malta last week shows it to be in a state of disrepair, with little signs of life inside.
One of Abela’s neighbours scoffed at the idea that any Russians had ever lived in the villa.
“There are no Russians here, my friend. The Abelas, particularly Lydia, used to visit quite often when they...