Booked Abroad: Malta

✈️ What Is Booked Abroad?

Booked Abroad is a true crime series told through my passport. Every case featured here happened in a country I’ve personally visited — sometimes just blocks from where I stayed. These are stories that gripped local headlines but barely made a ripple back home.

From political assassinations to cold cases that shaped a nation, each post dives into the crimes, culture, and consequences behind the headlines.

New place, new story — but always true crime, truly global. Let's get into the story.

“A journalist assassinated. A government unraveling. A nation forever changed.”

When we landed in Malta, we were thinking golden sandstone, turquoise seas, and a few quiet days in Sliema. What we didn’t expect was to walk the same streets where a car bomb once killed the country’s most fearless investigative journalist — and nearly took down the entire government.

This is the story of Daphne Caruana Galizia. A woman whose reporting made her powerful enemies. And whose death would uncover more corruption than anyone could imagine. Known to many in the journalism world as "One Woman Wiki Leaks"

🏡 Sliema Roots (That’s Where We Stayed!)

Daphne was born and raised in Sliema — the same neighborhood where we stayed. In fact the the Airbnb in my recap is a short walk from the coastline where she grew up and where she later exposed Malta’s elite.

By the early 2000s, Daphne had become a one-woman investigative force. Through her blog, Running Commentary, she uncovered everything from offshore bank accounts to government scandals. She was relentless — naming names in a country that rarely challenged the powerful.

In 2017, her reporting on the Panama Papers sent shockwaves through Malta. She accused top officials — including then-Prime Minister Joseph Muscat’s inner circle — of money laundering and corruption. She linked shell companies to lucrative energy deals, hinting that someone at the top was profiting off public contracts.

💥 The Car Bomb

On October 16, 2017, Daphne got into her car outside her Bidnija home. Just minutes later, it exploded. She died instantly. Her final blog post that morning?

“There are crooks everywhere you look now. The situation is desperate.”

Her murder was surgical, terrifying, and sent a message. This was an assassination, done with precision. But instead of silence, it sparked outrage. Protesters flooded the capital. The EU demanded answers.

🧨 Who Killed Daphne?

Three men were arrested for planting and detonating the bomb: George Degiorgio, Alfred Degiorgio, and Vince Muscat. Of the three men arrested for Daphne’s assassination, Vincent Muscat — nicknamed il-Koħħu — was the first to flip.

In 2021, he pleaded guilty to his role in the car bombing and was sentenced to 15 years in prison. But in exchange, he offered something powerful: names.

Muscat claimed he and the Degiorgio brothers were paid €150,000 to kill Daphne. He cooperated with police, revealing details about the planning, the bomb, and the chain of command. His testimony cracked open the case, eventually leading to Yorgen Fenech’s arrest.

Muscat later survived an attempted stabbing in prison — a warning, some say, for breaking omertà. But his cooperation helped push the case closer to justice.

One of the hitmen, George Degiorgio, admitted in 2022:

“If I’d known who she was, I’d have asked for €10 million, not €150,000.”

He claimed they were hired — not for justice, but business. And the person who allegedly paid?

🛥️ The Businessman: Yorgen Fenech

Yorgen Fenech, a powerful businessman with ties to Malta’s energy sector, was arrested in 2019 as he tried to flee the island on his private yacht. Investigators linked him to a secret Dubai company called 17 Black, which Daphne had reported on before her death. The company was allegedly funneling money to Maltese officials.

Fenech denies involvement but remains in custody awaiting trial.

🧩 Fallout at the Top

As the investigation crept closer to the Prime Minister’s office, Joseph Muscat announced his resignation in early 2020. Several of his aides and associates were interrogated. Muscat was never charged — but the scandal stained his legacy.

To this day, there are questions:

• Who really ordered the hit?

• Was there political protection?

• How far did the corruption go?

  
  

👣 Where They Are Now

• George and Alfred Degiorgio were sentenced to 40 years in prison in 2022.

• Vince Muscat received a reduced sentence for cooperating.

• Yorgen Fenech awaits trial.

• Joseph Muscat remains politically inactive but continues to deny wrongdoing.

• Daphne’s family continues to fight for full justice.

• A permanent memorial now stands in Valletta, near the courts, with candles lit daily.

  
  

🧳 Booked Abroad Takeaway

Malta isn’t just sun and stone — it’s a place where power once tried to silence truth. But Daphne’s legacy is louder than ever.

From Sliema to Bidnija, every corner has a story.

🔗 For photos, news clips, and a breakdown of the court case, check out our full recap on TikTok via Stamped & Suspect.📍 Want more true crime travel stories? Explore breeleaves.com for the full Booked Abroad collection.