MaltaToday previous editions

MaltaToday 14 April 2021 MIDWEEK

Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1361479

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 2 of 15

3 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 14 APRIL 2021 NEWS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Sultana was once the main ac- tress for a 2013 Labour electoral ad, in which she portrayed a ste- reotypical middle-class Nation- alist voter announcing she was 'switching' to Labour. Both are being prosecuted in their personal capacity, while Sultana also stands charged as former director of Nesvan Com- pany Ltd and MSI Catering, and Buttigieg as director of Luzzu Catering, the operators of Porti- cello in Valletta and Capo Mulini in Marsaxlokk, respectively. Search and arrest warrants were issued for Sultana and Buttigieg late last year during the extensive police anti-smug- gling operation which resulted in the arrests of former football- ers Darren Debono and Jeffrey Chetcuti, as well as auditor Chris Baldacchino over similar money laundering charges. Investigators working on taking apart an organised crime group that allegedly ran a €30 mil- lion fuel smuggling racket, had linked these restaurant-owning companies to Darren Debono who was arrested in December and released on bail last week. All companies had the same Swieqi-based address and shared a host of similar features includ- ing a pattern of banking trans- actions, money trails and day- to-day operations, as well as a common warranted auditor. When testifying at the start of criminal proceedings against Sultana and Buttigieg, inspector James Turner gave details about investigations into the Vallet- ta and Marsaxlokk restaurants, both specialising in seafood. The restaurants adopted the same payment method and each had its own ePOS system. The daily cash flow was not depos- ited, thus avoiding questions by banks, the inspector told the court. Sultana is the daughter of Debono's partner, while Butti- gieg provided corporate banking services to the former footballer at Banif Bank, affording internal assistance that enabled the client to bypass the anti-money laun- dering system and avoid detec- tion of financial layering. Sultana used her right to si- lence when she was arrested at home in Mosta. A search of her home yielded some €52,000 in cash, various branded items including Gucci and Armani and ten watches, including a Rolex, large glass jars containing banknotes and coins as well as documents linked to sales at Porticello, Capo Mulini, Silver Horse and Onda Blu res- taurants. The woman was later ques- tioned and asked to explain pos- session of those items as well as an Audi A1, the acquisition of which could not be linked to any bank transaction. Inspector Danilo Francalanza, from the anti-money laundering squad, testified about his role in the search at Sultana's home. Another officer from the unit, PS Francesco Farrugia, described the search at Albert Buttigieg's Swieqi residence in December, during which a number of doc- uments and electronic devices were seized. The search party had then moved on to Marsax- lokk, searching Capo Mulini and two interconnected garages behind the restaurant and seiz- ing other documents and de- vices. During his interrogation, Buttigieg was unable to explain how the business, claimed to be struggling, had still managed to register earnings of €1 million. Questions were also asked about refurbishment works at the restaurant and the involve- ment of Spiridione, known as Daimer, Goodlip who allegedly took instructions from Debono. Goodlip is brother to Debono's partner Odette Goodlip. Marsaxlokk restaurant Ca- po Mulini's chef patron at one time was the fiancé to Debono's niece, the daughter of the sis- ter to Debono's partner Odette Goodflip. The niece's father al- so appeared as the VAT-liable person Albert Buttigieg acted as director of Luzzu Catering, the operator of the Capo Mulini restaurant. Onda Blu restaurant in Pietà, according to Facebook photos, was staffed by former Porticello head waiters, as well as Sultana's fiancé. Silver Horse 'by Sonni', a pop- ular bar on Strait Street, carries the nickname 'Sonni' of Valletta FC's vice-president Alexander Fenech. But in June 2020, the bar entered into a 'platinum' sponsorship agreement for Val- letta FC: the promotional photo included Fenech alongside Dar- ren Debono and Jeffrey Chetcuti – who faces money laundering charges together with Debono – Valletta FC president Victor Sciriha and Valletta property en- trepreneur Andre Imbroll. Valletta FC and its officials is- sued a statement refuting any inference of their involvement in the operations of 'Silver Horse'. "They neither hold, nor have they ever held, any commer- cial interest in the operations of 'Silver Horse by Sonni'. Valletta FC and its officials disassociate themselves completely from the actions being alleged in such ar- ticles,"the football club said. Porticello restaurant was re- named after its forebear Scoglitti was blacklisted by the US Treas- ury Department. The Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) later updated its sanctions list to reflect a change in the name of the blacklisted Maltese restau- rant, which belonged to former national footballer and alleged fuel smuggler Darren Debono, and was blacklisted by the US back in February. Magistrate Donatella Frendo Dimech confirmed a freezing or- der on all assets of the accused whilst also confirming an earlier order by the Criminal Court al- lowing the targeted restaurants to continue to operate under supervision while the freezing order remains in place. The court also appointed an IT expert to analyse the devices for information relevant to the charges. Lawyers Stefano Filletti and Martina Cuschieri are de- fence counsel. Inspectors Joseph Xerri, James Turner and Omar Caruana are prosecuting, assist- ed by AG lawyers Antoine Agius Bonnici and Cinzia Azzopardi Alamango. Court confirms freezing of accused's assets Albert Buttigieg Former footballer Darren Debono holds teh Valletta FC gear (right)

Articles in this issue

Archives of this issue

view archives of MaltaToday previous editions - MaltaToday 14 April 2021 MIDWEEK