Man charged with murder of Maltese journalist released on bail

A Maltese court on Friday granted bail to a prominent businessman who is charged with complicity in the murder of anti-corruption journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia in 2017.

Yorgen Fenech, who has been under arrest since November 2019, hugged members of his family in court after the judge’s decision. He has been undergoing pre-trial proceedings for several years, but no date for the trial has been set yet.

He denies the charges.

Three men are serving long prison sentences for planning and carrying out the murder. Caruana Galizia was killed instantly when a bomb planted in her car blew up as she drove away from home.

One of Caruana Galizia’s sisters was in court as the decree was delivered.

The court ordered Fenech not to go within 50 meters [164 feet] of Malta’s coast or airport and to surrender his passport and identity documents. A probation officer was appointed to supervise him. His aunt, who is his guarantor, was ordered to deposit several hundred thousand euros with the court.

Fenech was also ordered not to communicate with prosecution witnesses, particularly a self-confessed middleman who turned state evidence.

Fenech had seen several previous bail requests denied, as prosecutors said they feared he could flee or tamper with evidence.

Defense lawyers insisted that Fenech satisfied all bail prerequisites required by law and that their client had spent five years behind bars while presumed innocent, without ever causing any problems in prison.