Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1313950
4 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 2 DECEMBER 2020 NEWS Maria Efimova NICOLE MEILAK THE court has issued a freez- ing order on all moveable and immovable property belonging to former footballers Darren Debono and Jeffrey Chetcuti and four companies belonging to them. The pair were charged last week with money laundering and fuel smuggling as part of Operation Proteus that in- volved the Maltese police, Eu- ropol and law enforcement agencies from other countries. The companies belonging to Debono and Chetcuti affected by the court order are World Water Fisheries Ltd, Andrea Martina Ltd, Marie De Lourdes Company Ltd and Coast Ltd. Debono is the single share- holder of World Water Fisher- ies and Andrea Martina Ltd. He owns half of all issued shares of Marie De Lourdes Company Ltd, the other half owned by Sammy Vella. Coast Ltd, a fishing company, is fully owned by Jeffrey Chet- cuti. The two former national team footballers were arrested and arraigned in court following a nationwide anti-smuggling sting operation during which 15 people were arrested. They were charged with money laun- dering and smuggling offences, and are currently in custody at Corradino Correctional Facili- ty. The compilation of evidence against the pair had to start today but was postponed to 14 December after the magistrate ended up in quarantine. Three other people, Gordon Debono, his wife Yvette-Ma- rie Debono, and Shawn Hig- gans, were subsequently also charged in relation to the same operation. Gordon Debono and Darren Debono (no relation between the two) were arrested back in 2017 by Italian police as part of the Dirty Oil operation that sought to curb fuel smuggling from Libya. Gordon Debono has also been subjected to a freezing order, together with his wife and 11 companies. The companies affected are Hi-Low Properties Ltd, Petroplus Ltd, KB Investments Ltd, KB Lines Ltd, Seabrass Ltd, Petrobunkers Ltd, Oil and Ship Ltd, Gorge Ltd, S-Cape Yacht Charter Ltd, S-Cape Ltd and Yves Ltd. Former footballers busted in Operation Proteus have assets frozen Darren Debono and Jeffrey Chetcuti were arrested and arraigned in a major anti-money laundering sting last week codenamed Operation Proteus Darren Debono (left) and Jeffrey Chetcuti (right) THE Economy Ministry will be assisting workers affected by the organisational restructuring of Evolution Gaming following its acquisition of NetEnt. Following the takeover, the company cut jobs and shut down its live casino studio in Qormi. The restructuring has report- edly left hundreds jobless. Em- ployees were on Tuesday morn- ing sent home, while being told to expect an email from their employer with further instruc- tions. Noting the investment, and the laying off of employees, the ministry said that it has initiat- ed discussions with the relevant entities in order to facilitate the transition of employees at risk of being laid off. Employees who are laid off with immediate effect may reg- ister for employment through the Jobsplus dedicated portal. A dedicated helpline has also been set up on 22201251 to as- sist affected persons. Further arrangements have also been done for JobsPlus to offer a purposely set-up job matchmaking support service to the affected persons. "JobsPlus officials are in touch with the company management to coordinate this service di- rectly," the ministry said. Gaming Malta Foundation is also currently in talks with oth- er gaming operators who have readily available job opportu- nities that could be suitable for affected employees. Evolution submitted its all- share bid to acquire NetEnt in June, valuing the company at SEK19.6bn, with the bid sub- ject to necessary approvals, including competition clear- ances. The company secured approv- al from the Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Author- ity in late September, and ob- tained the approval of the UK's Competition and Markets Au- thority on 16 November. The settlement was declared unconditional on 23 November and entered into effect yester- day. Economy ministry assisting workers laid off following Evolution Gaming's NetEnt takeover