Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1425206
2 NEWS maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 3 NOVEMBER 2021 2 NEWS 29 new COVID-19 cases were registered on Tuesday, figures published by the Health Ministry show. One death was registered in the last 24-hours, an 83-year-old man. This brings the total number of deaths to 462. Active cases stand at 238 after 16 recov- eries were registered. There are currently ten coronavirus pa- tients being cared for at Mater Dei Hos- pital, of which four are in the ITU. Until yesterday, 881,843 vaccine doses were administered, of which 54,267 were booster doses. COVID-19 One death, 29 new cases and 16 recoveries MATTHEW AGIUS A magistrate presiding over money laundering proceed- ings against Yorgen Fenech has granted him bail against a €100,000 total bail bond. Taking into account the clean criminal conduct and the ac- cused's cooperation with the authorities, the small amount alleged to have been laundered and which deals with a restrict- ed period of time in the charges, Magistrate Donatella Frendo Dimech granted bail against a deposit of €30,000 and a per- sonal guarantee of €70,000. Fenech was ordered not to travel abroad or hide from the police, deposit ID card, not ap- proach prosecution witnesses or commit another crime whilst on bail, sign a bail book twice daily and observe a curfew. The prosecution had failed to substantiate its fear of Fenech absconding, said the magistrate pointing out that the assets of the accused in Malta are already frozen and no request to freeze assets abroad was made. Several company officers from Tumas Group testified this af- ternoon before Magistrate Do- natella Frendo Dimech as the compilation of evidence against the Group's CEO, Yorgen Fenech, continued. In this case Fenech, who is separately indicted for the mur- der of journalist Daphne Caru- ana Galizia, stands accused of money laundering. In previous sittings it emerged that Fenech is suspected of hav- ing laundered €5000 through his casinos. The sitting was delayed by some minutes due to the lack of availability of prison guards to escort the accused into the courtroom and provide securi- ty. When he eventually was es- corted into the courtroom, Fenech was in a chipper mood, backslapping and greeting his family, friends and legal team. Today's witnesses - Abigail Fenech, Money Laundering Reporting Officer at Tumas Gaming; Jesmond Galea, acting COO of Tumas Gaming and General Manager of Portoma- so Casino; Antoinette Tabone, General Manager at Oracle ca- sino in Qawra; and Dorianne Spiteri, the Cashdesk Manager - all testified about the record keeping and client onboarding procedures in force at the casi- nos. Tumas Gaming operates both the Oracle and Portomaso ca- sinos, the court heard. Abigail Fenech was also asked whether there was a connection between Tumas Gaming and Glimmer Ltd – a company owned by Yor- gen Fenech and his uncle Ray Fenech. There was none, she said. The court formally instruct- ed the media not to report on certain details which could im- pinge on the security of the ca- sinos. Asked about client onboarding, Galea laid out the process. "We keep records of everything," he said. The onboarding procedure he described applied only to the land-based casinos, he added, under cross-examination by the defence. What emerged from the tes- timony of these witnesses was that detailed records are kept of all transactions and KYC data on the casino's players. These records do not expire, the court was told. Winnings of over €2000 are to be accompanied by a winnings certificate issued by the cash desk. The magistrate also heard sub- missions on the accused's latest request for bail. The prosecution argued that their biggest fear was that the accused could easily abscond if granted bail. "The law men- tions fear," said Azzopardi Ala- mango. The court invited her to elaborate on this fear, in view of the fact that the amounts and punishment "are what they are." The Magistrate pointed out that Fenech had a clean crimi- nal record. "What is leading you to fear escape?" Facing proceed- ings could be an incentive to ab- scond, replied the prosecutor. "In the prosecution's humble opinion, when a person is fac- ing criminal proceedings and has connections abroad, there is a risk of absconding." Mercieca quoted the ECHR in Merabishvili vs Georgia, saying "when the only fear is flight, he or she must be released pending trial if it is possible to provide the necessary guarantees." Fenech was ready to sign as many times a day as required by the court, said the lawyer. "We are being charged with laundering €5,000. Mr Fenech is capable of guaranteeing this amount." The Magistrate asked why the AG was feeling that in this case, which is identical to others, there was a flight risk. Glimmer Ltd COO Patrick Demanuele and Director Anthony Farrugia had been released on bail. Lawyers Cinzia Azzopardi Alamango and Marthese Grech from the Office of the Attorney General are assisting prosecut- ing Inspector Brian Camilleri. The case continues on 6 De- cember at noon. Yorgen Fenech gets bail in money laundering case, but will remain in jail Yorgen Fenech