The US Department of State Wednesday publicly designated two former Maltese government officials and their immediate families, barring them from entering the US over alleged significant corruption.

The two officials barred from entry are Konrad Mizzi, a former energy and conservation minister, and Keith Schembri, former chief of staff to the prime minister. Their immediate families are also barred, which includes their wives and children. 

According to the Department of State, both former officials used their political influence and position for their benefit. This allegedly included a scheme involving a government contract for a power plant construction awarded in exchange for kickbacks and bribes. According to the department, this “undermined rule of law and the Maltese public’s faith in their government’s democratic institutions and public processes.”

Reuters and the Times of Malta reported in 2020 that offshore company 17 Black Limited profited from a 2015 wind farm project purchased by Maltese state energy company Enemalta. Both Mizzi and Schembri allegedly received payments from 17 Black Limited for unspecified actions, although both men denied wrongdoing. 

The Wednesday designations are made under Section 7031(c) of the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2021. On December 11, the department also sanctioned 12 officials of foreign governments for their gross violations of human rights or corruption. The Department of State has designated over 149 individuals under Section 7031(c).  

Malta has also faced legal action in 2021 for its cash-for-passports schemes, which provided loopholes for Chinese, Saudi, and Russian millionaires to attain EU passports.