Keith Schembri (born 26 July 1975) is Maltese businessman and political strategist who served as chief of staff to Prime Minister Joseph Muscat from 11 March 2013 to 26 November 2019.
[2][3] In 1996, Schembri established Kasco Holdings, a group of companies providing various services and products within the fields of graphic art and engineering.
Schembri managed the 2013 electoral campaign that saw the Labour Party elected with the largest margin of victory in Malta since its independence.
[citation needed] In June 2015, Schembri purchased Panama companies from the Mossack Fonseca-related firm ATC Administrators Inc, specifically Hearnville Inc and Tillgate Inc.[6] Schembri asked the audit firm Nexia BT (Mossack Fonseca franchise in Malta), auditors of the Kasco Group,[6] to help him set up a New Zealand trust and associated company.
[6] Schembri was one of the Maltese individuals mentioned in the initial Panama Papers leaks in April 2016, together with then Minister for Energy and Health Konrad Mizzi.
In November 2024, Schembri was criminally charged with leaking information to the people involved with the murder of journalist Caruana Galizia.
[20] Schembri is also accused of trying to influence Fenech in order to frame Chris Cardona as responsible for the murder of Caruana Galizia.