‘I Wanted To Blackmail Him’: Jury Hears Why Melvin Theuma Kept Photo With Keith Schembri

Jurors in the Yorgen Fenech trial today heard that Melvin Theuma told police he kept a photograph of himself with former OPM chief of staff Keith Schembri because he “wanted to blackmail him”.

The claim emerged during testimony from lead investigator Keith Arnaud, who continued giving evidence on day four of the trial into the assassination of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.

According to Arnaud, Theuma explained that the photograph was taken on the day he was given what has been referred to in court as a phantom government job.

The investigator told the jury that the photo was among the material found inside a box handed over by Theuma to investigators, with Theuma allegedly explaining that he had deliberately kept it because he intended to use it to blackmail Schembri.

Arnaud also stressed during his testimony that, although Schembri’s name repeatedly features in recordings made by Theuma, Schembri is not implicated in Daphne Caruana Galizia’s murder.

The trial continues before a jury in Valletta.

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Gabriel Falzon

Gabriel Falzon is a social media executive at Lovin Malta, with a keen interest in digital media, local businesses, and the natural world. Outside of work, you’ll often find him baking up a storm, diving into video games, or exploring the endless corners of YouTube.