Nexia BT managing partner Brian Tonna said he was not in a position to divulge any information on Konrad Mizzi and Keith Schembri since they were his clients.

Nexit BT is the financial advisory firm that assisted both men set up private financial vehicles overseas.

“We are bound to keep our clients’ identity and affairs strictly confidential,” Mr Tonna said.

“We regret, therefore, that we are unable to respond to any of your queries.”

According to Dr Mizzi, the enquiries about opening his bank accounts were done by his financial advisors and he had signed no papers in relation to this process

Apart from questions about Dr Mizzi and Mr Schembri, who publicly indicated Nexia BT as the advisory firm which gave them advice on the setting up of overseas trusts in New Zealand connected to trading companies in Panama, the Times of Malta also asked Mr Tonna about his close collaboration with the Office of the Prime Minster. Mr Tonna’s firm has been the auditing firm of the Kasco Group of companies – the business owned by Mr Schembri – for a number of years.

Since Labour’s return to power, companies owned by Nexia BT received direct orders by the government to conduct studies and give advice.

Mr Tonna was asked whether he had a desk at the Office of the Prime Minster and whether he was regularly present at Castille, particularly on Tuesdays and Thursdays, but no replies were forthcoming.

When it emerged via the leaked Panama Papers that Dr Mizzi and Mr Schembri had twice tried to open bank accounts in Dubai and Panama, they let it be known that it was part of the service offered by Nexia BT.

According to Dr Mizzi, the enquiries about opening his bank accounts were done by his financial advisors and he had signed no papers in relation to this process.