A businessman has been arrested by law enforcement authorities in connection with the murder of renowned Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, who was killed two years ago.
Yorgen Fenech was arrested following the interception of his yacht.
The journalist who investigated high-level corruption was killed outside her home after her car that had been stuffed with bombs exploded.
Malta has been the subject of blistering international criticism over the murder of the journalist.
Maltese PM Joseph Muscat had said that he would contemplate granting the businessman a prime ministerial pardon.
He told the press that his government would leave no stone unturned in ensuring that the culprits are brought to book.
"The fact that the country's institutions were given the resources to carry out this operation - a major operation, to ensure no-one fled the country or tried to flee the country - shows the government's resolve and mine," the Prime Minister was quoted by the Guardian. "We are leaving no stone unturned, " he added.
Fenech's yacht was intercepted as it moved from the port of Portomaso, north of Valletta on Wednesday by a patrol boat.
The PM said that he would only give Fenech a pardon if he gave the needed evidence to nab the chief suspect in the murder probe.
"I gave a mandate to the attorney general to negotiate with the person's lawyers to take an unprecedented step," Prime Minister Muscat was quoted by Euro News. "If the person collaborates and the information provided is sufficient to prosecute the mastermind of this crime, they will receive a presidential pardon."