Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1533342
7 NEWS maltatoday | SUNDAY • 16 MARCH 2025 MATTHEW FARRUGIA mfarrugia@mediatoday.com.mt ANNOUNCEMENT OF CALLS FOR PROJECT PROPOSALS UNDER Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Strategic Plan for Malta 2023-2027 The Ministry responsible for European Funds is launching calls for project proposals as indicated hereunder: • Intervention 77.1.1 Supporting new participation in Quality Schemes • Intervention 77.1.2 Support for Information and Promotion Actions of Quality Schemes The first calls will close on Friday 2 nd May 2025 at noon. (additional subsequent closure dates may be notified for either of the calls on the website https://fondi.eu/) Prospective applicants are encouraged to refer to https://fondi.eu/ to access the CAP Strategic Plan, as well as the Guidance Notes and the application forms related to these calls. Information sessions for both calls are being organised at the Oaks Business Centre, Farsons Street, Hamrun (MA Office) on Friday 28 th March 2025. For further information and to register for these information sessions, kindly access the below QR Code or call SEM on 2779 7300. Further queries are to be sent by email on fondi.eu@gov.mt Alleged fraud victims slam 'insulting' police inaction CLIENTS allegedly defrauded by a furniture company claim they are being denied an opportunity to get their money back by the police. In 2023, following a legal complaint filed by lawyer Ma- riah Mula, the police charged Giordano Domenico Perucchini of Estea Furniture with fraud and misappropriation. After his arraignment, Peruc- chini was not granted bail and spent four months in jail. The compilation of evidence against him is still ongoing. The charges were filed follow- ing complaints made by cus- tomers who alleged that despite paying a deposit for furniture, the company left them in radio silence and did not deliver. However, when news of the complaint spread, more disgrun- tled customers started reaching out to Mula, who then filed a sec- ond complaint so that they could get their money back. But this time, the police doors were shut in their faces. Speaking to MaltaToday, Mula said that following Perucchini's arraignment, she filed a com- plaint on behalf of the second group of clients. "I don't know why they're not acting; I've been chasing them (the police) for a long time," she said. Mula explained that when she spoke to the police about their inaction, they still would not pro- ceed with the second complaint, meaning that the clients have no legal way of being refunded their deposits. The lawyer told this newspaper that her clients' only other way forward is to challenge the Police Commissioner in court in order to force the police to act on the complaints. Questions sent to the police about their inaction have re- mained unanswered. 'Is that how it's done in this country?' Speaking to MaltaToday about her experience, one of the cus- tomers who was allegedly de- frauded explained that she has been left dumbfounded by the police's reluctance to act on their complaints. Jackey, who is a foreign nation- al, explained that her experience with Estea Furniture had started off positively. She said that when she bought a piece of furniture that was in stock, there were no irregularities. That changed when she sought the business's services to con- struct a kitchen for her new flat in Malta. After paying a €3,000 deposit, she said the company started coming up with excuses, and after some time, she discov- ered that Perrucchini was arrest- ed. Jackey explained that after fil- ing a complaint through Mula, she was once again left waiting for the police to act. "I'm very curious as to how you can be de- frauded, make a report, and the police refuse to take action. Is that how it's done in this coun- try?" Her frustration is shared among a number of other clients whose deposits were taken and who came forward after they learnt of Perruchini's arrest. When asked about the possi- bility of challenging the Police Commissioner to take action, Jackey noted that she finds it "in- sulting." "So, I have to pay money in order to get the people who are supposed to protect and serve to do their job," she said. Jackey acknowledged that be- ing understaffed is not a problem exclusive to the police, however she admitted that the lack of ac- countability has left her blown away. Giordano Domenico Perucchini of Estea Furniture