Maltese prime minister ex-chief of staff arrested and questioned over killing of journalist

After resigning from his post as chief of staff to the Maltese prime minister Tuesday, Keith Schembri was arrested and questioned regarding the killing of investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.

Police in Malta are questioning Schembri after allegations were made by businessman Yorgen Fenech, who was arrested last week trying to flee the country, that Schembri was a co-conspirator in the death of Caruana Galizia, The Guardian reports.

According to the publication, French provided the information in hopes of receiving a presidential pardon.

Schembri was put in the middle of a political scandal four years ago when Caruana Galizia leaked a report known as the Panama Papers. In her report, she stated that Schembri and Tourism Minister Konrad Mizzi became the beneficiaries of secretive offshore companies soon after entering office, The Guardian reports.

Schembri and Mizzi both resigned Tuesday.

Schembri’s arrest comes amid increasing pressure for Prime Minister Joseph Muscat to resign. 

“Joseph Muscat’s moral authority has been compromised to the point of no return,” newspaper Malta Today’s executive editor wrote in an editorial. “The stage is set for Muscat’s exit.”