Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi.

The audit firm that should be probing Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi’s financial affairs remains unidentified as the Office of the Prime Minister ignores questions on the matter.

Dubbed as an “independent international audit firm” by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, it is unclear whether the company has actually started the exercise.

The audit was announced at the beginning of March as the government faced increasing heat on the Panama affair that embroiled the minister and the Prime Minister’s chief of staff Keith Schembri.

But since the announcement was made, no details have been given about either the exercise or when it could be expected to end.

Dr Muscat has insisted throughout the nine-week Panama crisis that he wanted facts in hand before taking any decision on Dr Mizzi’s and Mr Schembri’s fate, attaching great importance to the audit.

However, it is unclear whether the audit will be probing the financial affairs of both men embroiled in the scandal and whether the exercise was indeed commissioned by the Prime Minister’s office.

This audit is separate from the tax audit requested by Dr Mizzi from the Tax Commissioner soon after his ownership of a Panama company became public.

No details have been given about either the exercise or when it could be expected to end

Questions about the international audit sent to the Office of the Prime Minister last Monday remained unanswered, despite a reminder on Friday.

But the Prime Minister seems to be in no rush to take a decision over the matter despite acknowledging the widespread disappointment and anger it created.

Government sources said the Prime Minister wanted to remain consistent with his actions in previous cases involving former minister Manuel Mallia and former parliamentary secretary Michael Falzon by waiting for the audit.

The Panama Papers confirmed that Dr Mizzi and Mr Schembri acquired companies in Panama last year and were actively seeking to open bank accounts linked to them. According to revelations in the Australian media with access to all the Panama Papers, the men wanted the bank accounts to deposit funds coming from commercial activities in waste recycling and online gambling.

Parliament is today expected to debate a motion of no confidence in the government presented by the Opposition in the wake of the Panama affair.

The questions ignored by the OPM

• What is the name of the audit firm carrying out the audits?

• Are both Konrad Mizzi’s and Keith Schembri’s financial affairs being audited by this independent company?

• Who chose the company?

• Have the audits started and when?

• When are they expected to be concluded?

• Are these forensic audits?

kurt.sansone@timesofmalta.com