MIA defends decision to renew car rental contract with Christian Borg’s company
Borg and several of his companies were last year hit with a freezing order and criminally charged
Malta International Airport (MIA) has defended its decision to award a car rental franchise contract to a company owned by suspected gangster Christian Borg, saying all bidders were assessed according to strict financial and operational criteria.
The airport renewed a business agreement with Sicily by Car, operated in Malta by Borg’s company Princess Operations Ltd, less than two years after the company’s offices were raided by police as part of a fraud investigation.
A spokesperson for MIA said all applicants were required to provide detailed information about the financial position of their company and its directors, as well as proof of compliance with consumer affairs regulations and the absence of court convictions.
‘Princess Operations Ltd – Sicily by Car’ was among 14 companies selected to provide car rental services at MIA for a year starting from early December, the spokesperson said.
Fifteen companies applied for tenders to operate 14 car rental outlets at the airport, with one application rejected for failing to meet the criteria. Other franchises that saw their contracts renewed include Hertz, Sixt and Avis.
The tenders cover the use of office premises and car parking spaces in the airport’s multi-storey Park East car park.
According to the spokesperson, bidders were also evaluated on “fleet quality and sustainability, service and operational capabilities, technology and customer service infrastructure, experience and references, organisational profile and financial stability.”
The tender covers the use of office premises and car parking spaces in the airport’s multi-storey car park. Photo: Chris Sant FournierCompany director is former PL photographer
Princess Operations Ltd, which operates Sicily by Car in Malta, is owned by Princess Holdings Ltd, a company set up in 2015 that is owned and managed entirely by Borg, who also serves as secretary of Princess Operations. The company’s director is Joseph Camenzuli, a business associate of Borg and a former Labour Party photographer.
The renewal marks the first time Borg’s company has secured an airport franchise contract since police from the financial crime unit raided its offices in December 2023 as part of a fraud investigation.
In August last year, Borg and several of his companies – including Princess Operations Ltd – were hit with a freezing order and charged with alleged money laundering, criminal conspiracy and tax evasion.
Italian car rental franchise Sicily by Car had distanced itself from Borg three years ago after he, along with five others, was accused of kidnapping a man and threatening to torture him and rape his sister.
In December, several Sicily by Car vehicles were removed from a public road in Santa Luċija after being found parked illegally.
This is not the first time Princess Operations has been awarded a public contract. The company has previously secured tenders with Transport Malta and the Local Enforcement System Agency (LESA).