The Maltese Up & Down Marketing Limited d/b/a OneTwoTrade allegedly scammed hundreds of victims and millions of euros with its binary options fraud scheme. It went into liquidation. However, Jean-Paul Debono, the liquidator, resigned in January 2023. He informed the Maltese Business Registry of his decision. One of its former directors Ivan Grixti (LinkedIn), is a former Malta Labour Party MEP candidate.
Fintelegram can reveal that the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) has been using the services of outsourced lawyers rather than its in-house lawyers to defend itself against license holders and selected persons. One of the law firms that is raking in tens of thousands of euros is GVZH Advocates. It is not known how they were selected. Fintelegram is publishing proof that this law firm has been enjoying a hefty retainer for years. The published invoice is addressed to MGA CEO Carl Brincat.
Malta is different! The Chairman of Malta's largest Bank, Gordon Cordina, has a nice side hustle through E-Cubed Consultants Limited, a company registered in Malta and operating from its Mosta offices. Gordon Cordina owns half of the shares of E-cubed Consultants Ltd and serves as a director. His partner is Stephanie Vella. The firm's auditors are RSM Malta Ltd. Fintelegram has received intelligence that clearly shows that Bank of Valletta's Chairman also acts as a consultant to the highly controversial Malta Gaming Authority (MGA).
The Malta Gaming Authority issued a gaming company's license knowing its ultimate beneficial owner was facing prosecution in Italy for financial crimes. According to documents received by Fintelegram, MGA was aware of criminal investigations against Marcel Boekhoorn and his Habanero Systems Limited during the licensing procedure. In 2019, the Durch billionaire Boekhoorn was accused by prosecutors in Reggio Calabria, Italy, of using "money, goods or assets of illicit origin."
How much disgrace and national damage can regulators produce? In Malta, a lot! A Malta league basketball match is the subject of a major police investigation in Malta. The smallest EU country is well-known as a hub for gaming companies. One of the match players, Anton Axiaq, happens to be a Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) official. He works within the IT section. Maltese media reported that a criminal police investigation is underway.