A prominent Maltese businessman has offered to testify against top government officials over the 2017 murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia and said the prime minister has a conflict of interest in the case.

Lawyers for the businessman, Yorgen Fenech, on Thursday deposited in court a letter to President George Vella formally asking for a pardon.

In return, Fenech promised to supply information related to former government chief of staff Keith Schembri, former Tourism Minister Konrad Mizzi, Economic Affairs Minister Chris Cardona and other people ¡°close to the prime minister.¡±