The Questions Jurors Put To Assistant Commissioner Keith Arnaud: Schembri’s Phone And Melvin Theuma’s Evidence Box

Jurors put questions to Assistant Commissioner Keith Arnaud at the end of his testimony and cross-examination on the 7th day of the trial against Yorgen Fenech for the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia.

These are the questions, in order:

1. Did Theuma receive any money as the middleman?

It was investigated, and it appears he wasn’t paid. In fact, Theuma says that he lost money through the assassination, by sometimes footing the bill for payments to the Degiorgio brothers while they were under preventative custody.

2. On Melvin Theuma’s phantom job, was it confirmed during Schembri’s interrogation? And did you ask Melvin Theuma why he was offered the job?

We kickstarted parallel investigations when we received Theuma’s evidence box and statement. That information was shared in different magisterial inquiries and with different police officers. There was an investigation and charges were issued.

While I was not there personally, Keith Schembri told inspectors in the phantom job case that he had met Theuma and had provided him with a job. However, he said it was normal and “like many others around election season”. 

Schembri said that the photo with Theuma was also quite normal. He would always take photos with visitors. Oftentimes they ended up on social media.

Theuma did not know why he was given the job and never asked, as he didn’t need the money. In fact, Theuma didn’t make a fuss when the job stopped. Theuma did confirm that Fenech told him to go to Castille the day after he confirmed the hit with the Degiorgio brothers.

3. We heard you say that Melvin Theuma told you that Kenneth Camilleri was sent by Keith Schembri to “calm him down”. Is that correct?

Melvin Theuma said that he actually did not know who sent Kenneth Camilleri. He assumed it was Keith Schembri because Camilleri spoke to him about the plot to bail out the Degiorgio brothers – and since Camilleri worked in OPM, he made the connection.

In tapes, Yorgen Fenech says Keith Schembri sent Camilleri. Camilleri also said under oath that Keith Schembri sent him to calm Theuma down.

4. Did police confirm the calligraphy of the person who wrote notes on the letter (the one Schembri allegedly sent Fenech through their mutual doctor?

No. I am not sure when, but during interrogations the doctor said that he passed the note to Fenech; Fenech began scribbling in biro.

5. Keith Schembri’s phone was last active at 5 am. Did you check where Keith Schembri was at that time? And that the phone’s last data match it?

Yes, he was at home. The basic data shows if there was a call, sms or internet use. The 5 am activity was not a call or sms. Location data indicates the photo was taken near Schembri’s home.  

The court experts will testify on the data.

6. Is it normal for just two officers to arrest a high-profile individual and conduct searches? Why did you not go straight to Castille?

A lot happened on 25th December. There were many developments we were not aware could happen. We worked through the night. Early in the morning, some members were resting, and we decided to proceed with an arrest. 

On Castille, yes, maybe we should have gone there directly.