Mark Vassallo appointed to chair government property firm Malita
In brief
- Lawyer Mark Vassallo has been appointed chairman of state-controlled property firm Malita Investments.
- Vassallo serves as defence counsel to former government chief of staff Keith Schembri and is company secretary at PBS.
- The appointment falls under the portfolio of Minister Owen Bonnici, with Vassallo replacing outgoing chairman Roderick Psaila.
Lawyer Mark Vassallo has been appointed to head the board of directors at Malita Investments, a government-controlled property investment vehicle.
The appointment was approved under the ministerial portfolio of Owen Bonnici, who currently holds responsibility for the company. Vassallo replaces outgoing chairman Roderick Psaila at the helm of the entity.
Malita Investments operates as a publicly listed investment vehicle that acquires and develops property assets, primarily financing public developments and social housing initiatives. The company previously fell under the portfolio of former minister Roderick Galdes before ministerial responsibilities were reassigned.
Vassallo is best known publicly for his work as a criminal defence lawyer, notably representing Keith Schembri, the former chief of staff to former Prime Minister Joseph Muscat. Schembri faces ongoing criminal court proceedings related to financial crimes.
Alongside his private legal practice, Vassallo also holds a public sector governance role as company secretary for Public Broadcasting Services, Malta's national broadcaster.
Coverage of the appointment noted the intersection between Vassallo's prominent legal defence of high-profile political figures and his ongoing positions within state-backed entities.
The Spin Room
Medium media divide. Outlets agreed on the appointment itself, but differed in emphasis between the factual details of the role and wider political criticism of government governance.
- The Shift News: Reported the appointment factually, highlighting Vassallo's roles representing Keith Schembri and serving as company secretary at PBS, while noting his succession of Roderick Psaila.
- The Maltese Herald: Adopted an accusatory editorial tone, placing the appointment in the context of past controversies at Malita Investments and wider systemic criticism of public administration.