Malta Banks refused to allow restaurants linked to money laundering allegations to have accounts
The magistrate presiding over the money laundering case against restauranteurs Florinda Sultana and Albert Buttigieg, of Capo Mulini, has heard a court-appointed administrator explain that no local bank had been willing to allow Sultana to operate an account.
Sultana and Buttigieg are the subjects of criminal
proceedings filed over their involvement in a number of companies operating the
Porticello – formerly Scoglitti, a restaurant in Valletta – and Capo Mulini at
Marsaxlokk. Both restaurants are alleged to be linked to the laundering of
money from oil smuggling.
The pair had been the subjects of search warrants and were
arrested last year during a large-scale police anti-smuggling operation which
led to the arraignments of ex-footballers Darren Debono and Jeffrey Chetcuti,
together with auditor Chris Baldacchino and fuel trader Gordon Debono.
All accused are denying the charges.
The administrator was appointed to take stock of MS1
Catering, a holding company for Sultana's restaurant, Porticello. The restaurant
was operating on a cash-only basis, as no local bank would open an account for
the company.
“There is no bank account for the company in Malta… None of
the banks want to allow them to have an account with them as they are subject
to FIAU investigations and [the banks] don’t want problems,” the administrator
said, asking the court for guidance on how to handle the situation.
Lawyer Stefano Filletti, appearing for the accused, said the
situation was partially the fault of the State, for “putting people’s backs to
the wall”.
“Now that it did all that it could to stop the restaurants’
operations, it was creating obstacles for them to be administered,” he said.
The court, however, also observed that the administrator had
not stuck to his remit and had engaged staff to assist him. This was not
allowed as it simply increased costs.
Also testifying today were eight restaurant staff members,
who recognised Buttigieg as the boss, although they didn’t know who the
restaurant belonged to. The staff members would be paid by bank transfer from
Buttigieg’s company Luzzu Catering or sometimes, in cash, they said.
In a previous sitting, another court-appointed expert had
reported finding around 14,000 photos from a camera hidden in a women’s
bathroom on Buttigieg’s electronic devices. This morning, the Court pointed out
that it had never said they were taken at the restaurant, or that they were
taken by Buttigieg. The photos were of people in a toilet, it said, but no
evidence had been brought to show which toilet they were taken from.
The case continues on July 19.
Lawyers Stefano Filletti and Martina Cuschieri appeared for
the accused. The prosecution is being led by Inspector Joseph Xerri, James
Turner and Omar Caruana. They were assisted by lawyers Antoine Agius Bonnici
and Cinzia Azzopardi Alamango from the Office of the Attorney General.
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