Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/624751
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 10 JANUARY 2016 8 News MATTHEW VELLA THE fate of disbarred lawyer Patrick Spiteri, wanted in Malta for criminal conduct related to a total of €7.4 million, hangs in the balance when a London court will decide this month on his ap- peal against his extradition. In September 2015, the West- minster Magistrates Court or- dered Spiteri's extradition to Malta on eight separate requests from the judicial authorities over various allegations of fraud after the 51-year-old was arrested in a police swoop on his wife's country estate. The former tax lawyer – he ad- vised the Fenech Adami admin- istration on the introduction of VAT in 1995 and then consulted Labour a year later on the change- over to the infamous CET (Cus- toms and Excise Tax) alternative – had been living permanently in the UK since January 2014 in the €4 million country estate set over 15 acres of land, evading the Mal- tese courts on eight separate cases linked to fraud and misappropria- tion charges. He formerly lived in Malta with his partner, Lorna Maltby, and their three children. After his arrest by UK police in November, Spiteri was granted bail against a security deposit of £70,000 and a strict 11pm to 4am curfew. The decision by the London court has however laid bare the extent of the charges against Spi- teri, an ambitious lawyer who em- ployed his wit and charm to gain the confidence of stars like double Oscar and Grammy Award win- ner Leslie Bricusse, who accuses Spiteri of conning him out of his investments. Spiteri simply absconded from Malta after claiming he was un- able to be present in court due to his alleged illness, which led him to go to London for treatment for the onset of multiple sclerosis. He had been witnessed walking in Valletta, aided by a walking stick. He never returned to face charg- es of defrauding an Italian busi- nessman of almost €5 million in the court of Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera, who at the request of the prosecution had to post- pone the case indefinitely. Adding to the prosecution's troubles was that investigators were spending a lot of time chasing the money trail in tax havens away from Malta and the fact that Spiteri changed his lawyers several times, which meant the new defence team had to be given time to study the case. While doctors had certified he was not in a position to travel back, upon his arrest in 2015 – in a police sting prompted by inves- tigations from The Times that lo- cated him using an online dating profile – Spiteri was said by ar- resting officers to be able to walk normally. In its judgement, the Westmin- ster Magistrates Court said that while Spiteri produced reports in relation to his health situation, "it appears he may be suffering from a form of chronic fatigue syndrome as well as stress and anxiety." Spiteri testified in five sepa- rate sittings over February and April 2015, providing a "clear and comprehensive recollection of events". He denied every allegation of criminal conduct laid against him and provided details of his defence and challenges to everyone of the serious allegations of dishonesty he faces. Spiteri lived in Italy between 2007 and 2010 with his part- ner Maltby. Between April and July 2009, he was detained under London court says Spiteri must face fraud charges in Malta Spiteri, who claimed to be suffering from multiple sclerosis, says he has 'chronic fatigue syndrome, stress and anxiety'