High-Profile Suspect Yorgen Fenech Granted Bail in Daphne Caruana Galizia Murder Case

Prominent Maltese businessman Yorgen Fenech—charged with complicity in the 2017 assassination of investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia—has been granted bail, sparking a mix of relief and outrage.

Fenech, who was arrested in November 2019 aboard his yacht and has maintained his innocence, has been detained for over five years with no trial date set. His release marks a rare concession of the legal process amid an intense investigation into political corruption and press assassination. The decision follows Maltese law, which mandates bail for defendants held beyond 30 months without trial.

The court set stringent conditions: Fenech must surrender his passport and identity documents, remain at a fixed residence, report daily to a probation officer, avoid Malta’s coast and airport, refrain from contacting prosecution witnesses, and live under 24-hour police surveillance. A substantial €50 million-plus security package—backed by his aunt’s assets—was posted to ensure compliance.

Fenech’s bail has ignited controversy. Daphne’s family and anti-corruption campaigners lambasted the delay and accused authorities of failing victims. European Parliament President Roberta Metsola described the justice system as “broken” for allowing a high-profile suspect to walk free before trial. The public inquiry into Caruana Galizia’s murder, which implicated senior government figures, had previously sparked national upheaval and led to Prime Minister Joseph Muscat’s 2019 resignation.

Despite the bail, Fenech remains a key figure in ongoing investigations. Several individuals have already been convicted: bomb suppliers Robert Agius and Jamie Vella received life sentences, while car-bombers George and Alfred Degiorgio are serving 40-year terms, and Vincent Muscat received 15 years after cooperating with authorities. Fenech’s trial is anticipated to follow, with restrictions in place to preserve juror integrity