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Malta plans to create a new agency to administer its controversial citizenship-by-investment scheme after years of relying on private firms to scrutinize the wealthy overseas investors seeking to obtain EU passports, an official told ACAMS moneylaundering.com. On June 30, the Maltese House of Representatives began consideration of a government-sponsored bill to amend the country's Citizenship Act, which, if approved later this month, would pave the way for a revamped "golden passport" scheme designed to sell citizenship to 400 applicants annually from September onwards. The proposed reforms come amid mounting warnings from opposition lawmakers, anti-corruption campaigners and European officials that the...