Chapter 179 – Enemy Property Act

What is this act about?

This law primarily concerns how income from money invested by the Custodian of enemy property is handled and establishes a process for individuals to claim ownership of property administered by the Custodian.

Who it applies to: The Custodian of enemy property; Individuals who claim to be the owner of property administered by the Custodian.

At a glance

Country: Malta
Area of law: Procedural law
Articles: 4
Source: legislation.mt
Text retrieved: 2026-06-17
Explanation updated: 2026-07-07

What does this act regulate?

The destination of income generated from investments made by the Custodian of enemy property.
The payment of interest on capital sums incorrectly identified as enemy property or money due to an enemy.
The procedure for individuals to submit claims for property administered by the Custodian.
The establishment and function of a Board to examine and decide on claims related to enemy property.

Who does this act apply to?

The Custodian of enemy property.
Individuals who claim to be the owner of property administered by the Custodian.

What are the key points?

Income received by the Custodian from investments of moneys in his capacity shall belong to the Government and be paid into the Consolidated Fund.
If the Custodian pays a capital sum that was incorrectly identified as enemy property or money due to an enemy, the recipient is entitled to receive interest at three-quarters of one per cent per annum.
Claims for property administered by the Custodian must be submitted to the Custodian not later than the 31st December, 2002.
A Board, chaired by the Custodian, will examine and decide on these claims, and its decisions can be appealed.

Procedural law

Chapter 558 – Human Organs, Tissues and Cell Donation Act

Chapter 11 – Acts of Parliament (Application) (Powers of Court of Magistrates) Ordinance

Chapter 378 – Consumer Affairs Act

Chapter 287 – Juvenile Court Act

Chapter 132 – Distribution of German Enemy Property Ordinance

Chapter 304 – Ratification of Treaties Act

Chapter 289 – War Damage (Repeal) Act

Chapter 176 – Geneva Conventions (Appeals by Protected Persons) Act

Procedural law

Legal text

Contents (4)

Art. 1
Art. 2
Art. 3
Art. 4

ENEMY PROPERTY

CHAPTER 179

ENEMY PROPERTY ACT To make provision as respects income from moneys invested by the Custodian of enemy property.

26th March, 1963 ACT XII of 1963, as amended by Legal Notice 46 of 1965; Act XVI of 1999; Legal Notice 410 of 2007; Act V of 2007 and XVII of 2017.

Art. 1

The short title of this Act is the Enemy Property Act.

Short title.

Art. 2

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires - Interpretation. "Custodian" means the Custodian of enemy property appointed under article 8 of the Ordinance; "enemy property" means any property at any time after the coming into operation of the Ordinance belonging to or held or managed on behalf of an enemy or enemy subject, and for the purposes of this Act the expressions "enemy" and "enemy subject" have the same meanings as for the purposes of the Ordinance; "Minister" means the Minister responsible for finance; "money due to an enemy" means money which would, but for the existence of a state of war, have been payable to or for the benefit of a person who was an enemy; "Order" means the Order published in the Malta Government Gazette of the 18th September, 1939, by Government Notice No.

457; "Ordinance" means the Trading with the Enemy Ordinance, 1939*; "person includes a body or association of persons.

Art. 3

3.(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, any income received by the Custodian from the investment of moneys coming into his hands in his said capacity whether in pursuance of the Ordinance or otherwise shall belong to the Government and shall be paid into the Consolidated Fund.

(2)The last foregoing sub-article shall be deemed to have effect as from the coming into operation of the Order, so however that it shall not be construed as authorising or requiring the repayment of any sums paid by the Custodian before the passing of this Act otherwise than into the Consolidated Fund.

(3)Where the Custodian after the coming into operation of this Act pays to any person a capital sum on the footing that (a) it represents money which was paid to the Custodian as being money due to an enemy, but which was not in *Omitted both in the 1942 Revised Edition and in this Revised Edition since it was war legislation of a temporary nature.

Income from moneys invested by Custodian.

Amended by:

L.N. 46 of 1965.

ENEMY PROPERTY fact due to an enemy; or (b) it represents the proceeds of property which was transferred to the Custodian as being enemy property, but which was not in fact enemy property, the person to whom the capital sum is paid shall be entitled to receive from the Custodian interest thereon at the rate of threequarters of one per cent per annum from the date on which the Custodian received the money referred to in paragraph (a) or the proceeds referred to in paragraph (b) thereof, as the case may be, to the date of payment of the capital sum.

(4)For the purpose of making payments under the provisions of the last foregoing sub-article the Custodian shall set aside out of any income such as is mentioned in sub-article (1) which he may have in his hands on the coming into operation of this Act, or which he may thereafter receive, such sums as the Minister may from time to time direct; and out of any sums so set aside the Custodian shall pay any interest which may become payable by him under the provisions of the last foregoing sub-article and shall pay the balance thereof (if any) into the Consolidated Fund.

Claims to the Board.

Added by:

XVI. 1999.2.

Amended by:

V. 2007.25;

XVII.2017.83.

Art. 4

4.(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Act or in the Ordinance, a person who claims to be the owner of any property movable or immovable administered by the Custodian, shall, not later than the 31st December, 2002, submit a claim to the Custodian showing that he is the enemy on whose behalf the property is managed or a person claiming under him.

(2)There shall be a board (hereafter referred to as the Board) composed of the Custodian, who shall be chairman, and representatives of the Lands Authority, the Accountant General, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry responsible for Foreign Affairs, and the Auditor General, which shall examine all the claims made under sub-article (1) and decide thereon.

(3)The decision of the Board shall be served on the claimant by a judicial act, and may be appealed by application before the Administrative Review Tribunal established in terms of article 5 of the Administrative Justice Act and the provision of this Act shall apply to such an appeal.

(4)Where the Board or the Administrative Review Tribunal or the Court of Appeal, as the case may be, decide in favour of the claimant the Custodian shall be entitled to deliver the property to the claimant after deducting therefrom the fees and expenses incurred by the Custodian in the administration of the property and its handing over.

(5)The Prime Minister may by regulations establish the fees that may be payable in connection with claims before the Board.

(6)The Board shall regulate its own proceedings, it shall however ensure the claimant shall have adequate opportunity to set out his claim in writing or orally as the Board may determine.

(7)With effect from the 1st day of January, 2003, any property administered by the Custodian in respect of which no claim has ENEMY PROPERTY been entered as aforesaid, or if such claim has been made upon its rejection, shall vest in the Government of Malta:

Provided that with reference to immovable property listed in the Schedule to this Act, the rights relating to such property and the said property shall be registered at the Land Registry in the name of the Government of Malta with absolute title in regard to whosoever had a right to submit a claim under this article, but with possessory title in regard to other third parties.

(8)The property to which this article refers shall be that listed in the Schedule to this Act.

Added by:

XVI. 1999.2.

Amended by:

L.N. 410 of 2007.

ENEMY PROPERTY SCHEDULE (Article 4) ENEMY PROPERTY ENEMY PROPERTY ENEMY PROPERTY ENEMY PROPERTY Appendix B George Furst account (German)

-90A, Old Theatre Street, Valletta

-435/4 St. Paul’s Building, West Street, Valletta (often recorded as 43J/4) Marianna and Filomena Fauci account (Italian)

-Land Tal-In[inier, Delimara, as indicated on the site plan number 1, attached to this Appendix

-Land Ta`-~awla, Marsascala, as indicated on the site plan number 2, attached to this Appendix

-Land Ta’ Fwieli, |abbar, as indicated on the site plan number 3, attached to this Appendix

-181 Alley 1, Bi``ieni Street, |abbar.

AI explanation based on the official legal text. Indicative, not a substitute for legal advice.