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maltatoday, SUNDAY, 22 MARCH 2015 3 News Murder weapon recovered in burnt car in Tal-Virtù MATTHEW AGIUS POLICE are investigating the pos- sibility that a weapon recovered this afternoon in a burnt out car in Rabat was the weapon used in the murder of Raymond Caruana in the early hours of this morning. Addressing a crime conference on Saturday evening, Assistant Com- missioner Silvio Valletta said that the vehicle, an Opel Corsa, had been burnt in a field in the Tal-Virtù area of Rabat. The vehicle had been re- ported stolen from the Pietà area in September last year. Caruana was hit by at least five bul- lets, suffering wounds in the face, chest, hands and feet. The autopsy is expected to be concluded on Mon- day. Valletta explained that the victim was leaving the farmhouse, where he had been in the company of an unidentified female, and was revers- ing out of his driveway "on his way home." As his car turned to face the road, the shots were fired. Caruana's body was found behind the car. An assault rifle is thought to have been used in this killing and forensic experts are currently examining the possibility that the weapon may have been used in other, similar, murders last year. No arrests have been made, said Valletta, adding that investigations are in a very preliminary stage with less than 24 hours having elapsed since the deed. Police have collected recordings from every CCTV camera in the area and are examining footage. He believed that the perpetrator knew the area well but could not comment further, repeating that investigations are at a very early stage. Valletta said that the victim was well known to police. Asked whether any connection with his criminal past had been made, the Assistant Commissioner emphasised that "all aspect of the victim's life will be ex- amined in detail, from the beginning. No stone will be left unturned." File photo of Assistant Police Commissioner Silvio Valletta and inspector Keith Arnaud Murder victim had set up company in tax haven in 2014 MATTHEW VELLA THE man gunned down outside his San Blas farmhouse late on Friday evening had consolidated his assets in an offshore company in the Brit- ish Virgin Islands, as recently as last June. Raymond Caruana, one of the men accused of bribing the late judge Ray Pace to harshen a prison sentence for a convicted drug trafficker, was killed in a barrage of bullets. Court documents show that the trucker was the owner of several properties and vehicles, and that in 2014 he registered a company, Dram Properties Limited, in the tax haven of the British Virgin Islands at the address of one of the world's elite law firms: Mossack Fonseca. Caruana, 54, of Zebbug, was killed in his Jeep at 9:30pm outside one of his properties – the Ta' Gejtan Farm- house on Buskett Road in San Blas, limits of Zebbug – as he climbed into the car. He was shot through the wind- shield, and then riddled with 33 bul- lets discharged by an assault rifle. First on the scene were officers from the police Rapid Intervention Unit, who found Caruana's body a few metres away from a Jeep. The lights and wipers of the bullet-rid- dled Jeep were still on. Deputy Police Commissioner Pierre Calleja, Assistant Police Com- missioner Silvio Valletta and Inspec- tor Keith Arnaud from the Homicide Squad arrived on the scene together with Inspectors James Grech and Michael Mallia. It is thought that a woman compan- ion called the emergency services. Police suspect the murderer hid in a narrow alleyway opposite the entrance of the farmhouse where Caruana had been staying with his partner. The murderer then emerged from his hiding place to shoot at the car as Caruana arrived on the scene. Police recovered a number of spent cartridge cases from the scene. Accused in bribery Caruana, a trucker, and Sandro Psaila, a 43-year-old restaurateur from Valletta, were charged with bribing the late Judge Ray Pace in an attempt to influence an appeals court decision about their rival, the convicted trafficker Darrin Desira. Desira had been sentenced to an 18- year jail term in 2011 by Judge Law- rence Quintano, and fined €46,000 after admitting to drug trafficking instead of facing a trial by jury. Desira had known Caruana for some time. He claimed in court in the charges against Caruana and Psaila, that in November 2011 – when he was set to face a trial by jury – Caruana asked to speak to him in person. When he arrived, he found that Caruana was bleeding from a head wound, and was told that a rob- bery had just taken place. Desira took Caruana to the Mosta polyclinic for treatment, adding that Caruana appeared to have had the impression that he knew who the perpetrators were A few days later, Desira was con- tacted by Sandro Psaila, who told him that he would introduce him to judge Ray Pace so that he could ar- range for a lenient sentence. Psaila, who described the late judge as a fu- ture Chief Justice, asked for money, but did not specify amounts. At the time, Psaila's lawyers had failed in a plea bargain for 10-12 years, as the prosecution was seek- ing a 15-year jail term. But before the judgment was handed down, he found out that Raymond Caruana was stating that he would be jailed for 18 years, testifying that he even told one of the police officers escort- ing him that he would get such a sentence. Considerable asset base On being charged, Caruana was served with an extensive freezing order on his assets, namely: an apart- ment in Nadur, his Zebbug residence on Anthony Aquilina Street, a prop- erty in Birgu, the Ta' Gejtan farm- house on Triq il-Buskett, Zebbug, and a plot of land in Qormi. He was also the owner of several vehicles, namely his Volvo FH16 container truck, a Polaris Sporstman quad- bike, two Ford F250 pick-up trucks, another Ford pick-up truck, his Jeep Wrangler, a Harley Davidson Dyna with licence plate HAR-666, and a Sea Jade pleasure yacht. Shortly after being released on bail and having had the asset freeze lifted after the death of Ray Pace, Caruana is believed to have consolidated his wealth in a company – Dram Prop- erties – which he registered in the tax haven of the Virgin Islands. mvella@mediatoday.com.mt Raymond Caruana being taken to court for one of his arraignments for the bribery of late judge Ray Pace