Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1543837
3 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 11 MARCH 2026 NEWS JULIA DOWLING jdowling@mediatoday.com.mt Loan shark's elderly mother had 16 cars in her name but no driving licence THE compilation of evidence against members of the Pace fam- ily continued in court on Tues- day, with investigators detailing a complex web of property hold- ings, unexplained income, and as- sets allegedly linked to an exten- sive loan-sharking operation. Inspector Leanne Bonello told the court that she was assigned to the investigation in March 2025 after several reports suggested that Keith Pace was engaged in usury and intimidation linked to private lending activities. According to the inspector, Keith Pace had previously been brought before court around 40 times on various charges, includ- ing theft and other offences. In- vestigators also received reports alleging that Pace had forcibly entered properties belonging to debtors. Despite officially being listed as unemployed, Bonello explained that Pace had received some €53,000 in social security bene- fits between 2014 and 2025. Re- cords showed he had only briefly worked with a local council and later with a small infrastructure company as a project manager. However, the inspector noted that the company in question had only two employees – Pace and its manager. Financial records presented in court showed substantial move- ments through Pace's Revolut ac- count, including around €109,000 entering and €105,000 leaving the account during 2025, largely through cheque deposits and cash transactions. Bonello remarked that the volume of transactions was significantly higher than the income expected from social se- curity benefits. The investigation also uncov- ered an extensive portfolio of property allegedly connected to the family. Bonello told the court that Keith Pace appears to control around 10 properties, some rent- ed out and others occupied by family members. Among these were properties in Marsa, Tarxien, Ħamrun and Sliema, as well as garages and res- idences that investigators believe were linked to family members or alleged debtors. One of the garages was purchased by Carlos Pace for €65,000. Evidence was also presented regarding a garage in Marsa and other locations, in- cluding one allegedly transferred to Keith Pace as a donation. Investigators also examined the finances of other family members. Maria Pace, who has six chil- dren, three with Keith Pace, has not been employed since 2003, the inspector testified. Her bank records allegedly show spending mainly on supermarkets and on- line shopping, while she receives child-related allowances dating back to 1998. Carlos Pace, Bonello said, had previously been arraigned in court in relation to a drug heist at the AFM Safi barracks, and fi- nancial records indicated that he had received more than €50,000 through cheques and cash. He also purchased a garage in Marsa for €50,000 Lawrence Pace was described as having worked only six years in his lifetime, yet records showed he also received approximately €50,000 in cash and cheque trans- actions and owns a Jaguar regis- tered in his name since 2022. Another family member, Ema- nuela Pace, never held a driving licence but had 16 vehicles regis- tered in her name, despite never having been employed. Although investigators were told she inher- ited money, Bonello said no docu- mentation supporting this inher- itance was found. During searches following their arrest, authorities seized several vehicles believed to be linked to the investigation, including an Isuzu, an Austin Mini Moke, a BMW, three Mercedes-Benz cars, and a Chevrolet Corvette. Police also discovered €93,000 in cash hidden in various places around the Marsa residence, in- cluding inside sofas, in safes, and even concealed in ceiling spaces and a fireplace. Officers also found jewellery and other valuables. The Marsa property, where Keith, Maria and Cleaven Pace re- side, contained two safes in which some of the money and valuables were stored. Officers also encountered a number of animals, including two monkeys allegedly kept illegally, 11 chihuahuas, several birds and even a Shetland pony kept on the roof, the inspector added. Throughout the lengthy sitting, the court was presented with a series of documents and financial records supporting the prosecu- tion's claims regarding the fami- ly's assets and financial activity. At the conclusion of the testi- mony, the court ruled that the evidence presented so far estab- lishes a prima facie case, allowing the compilation of evidence pro- ceedings to continue. Usury victims testify The court also heard testimony from another alleged victim, who said she had borrowed €2,000 from Keith Pace in May of last year after separating from her partner. She explained that she knew Pace through her ex-part- ner, who also had financial deal- ings with him. The woman said the loan re- quired repayments of around €300 per month, although Pace sometimes accepted smaller amounts when she struggled financially and allowed her to change payment dates. She later agreed to take over repayments for a loan her ex-partner owed to Pace, meaning she was paying two monthly instalments of €300. Between them, she estimated they had borrowed about €6,000, and she had repaid roughly €1,500 in cash so far. Asked how Pace benefitted, she explained that on her €2,000 loan she was expected to repay around €4,000, double the amount she had agreed with him. She added that because she does not drive, Pace would per- sonally go to her home to collect the payments. Another witness also testified about borrowing money from Pace after the roof of her home collapsed, leaving her in dire straits. The woman told the court she approached Pace because she had heard he lent money and described him and his family as "good people." She explained that she had asked Pace for €10,000, but he gave her €5,000, agreeing that the rest would be settled later. The agree- ment was formalised through a notarial contract, which she said was drawn up in the presence of both Keith and Carlos Pace. However, the document she signed stated that she had bor- rowed €9,750 not €5,000. When asked about the discrepancy, the woman told the court she did not know why the figure was higher and said the amount had been set by Keith Pace. However, it was concluded that she was aware of the higher figure on the contract. The court noted that the witness appeared nervous while giving ev- idence and asked whether anyone had approached her about chang- ing her testimony. The woman said she had been repaying the loan in €700 month- ly instalments, starting in January 2025, and had made seven pay- ments so far. She told the court she later asked Pace for another €1,000 because she did not have enough money to eat, which in- creased her outstanding debt to €5,600. According to her cal- culations, the total amount she now owed had reached around €10,500. She also recounted receiving a phone call from Maria Pace re- garding a missed payment. Dur- ing that call, the woman claimed Maria told her that if she were anyone else and the debt had re- mained unpaid, they would have already taken the property she had guaranteed. At one point during the testi- mony, Keith Pace shouted that the witness was lying, while the defence suggested she had in fact asked for €2,000 rather than €1,000 to cover her bills. The woman maintained that Pace had ultimately given her €1,000. Carlos Pace (left), Keith Pace (middle), and Emanuela Pace (right) are among the accused in the Pace family usury case