No mention of ‘estate planning’ in Mizzi's New Zealand trust; minister sues

Updated 9.40am with minister statement, Panama Paper documents
Konrad Mizzi did not list “estate planning” as the reason for setting up his New Zealand trust despite his claims that it was meant for his two properties in London and Sliema, according to Panama Papers documents.
A due diligence questionnaire submitted on behalf of Dr Mizzi by his financial advisers, Nexia BT, indicated the objectives of the trust as being “asset protection”, “confidentiality and privacy” and “family succession planning”.
The box marked “estate planning generally” – the first option on the list – was left unticked. Two boxes that did get ticked were the “do not audit” and “do not prepare accounts” categories.
Dr Mizzi had justified his complex financial set up – which involved a Panama company sheltered by a trust in New Zealand – by saying he would “populate it” with his assets, including a London property and rent coming from it.
Dr Mizzi’s income tax returns for 2013 and 2014 show rental income of just over €37,000 for the two years.

Dr Mizzi also owns a property in Sliema, though no mention was made of this property either by his financial advisers to Mossack Fonseca, the Panama law firm at...