Florinda Sultana and former banker placed under bill of indictment
The court has fond sufficient grounds for the indictment of ex-footballer Darren Debono s step-daughter
by Matthew Agius
The decree, known as
prima facie, was handed down in the case against Florinda Sultana and Albert Buttigieg in criminal proceedings filed over their involvement in a number of companies operating the Porticello - former Scoglitti- restaurant at Valletta and Capo Mulini at Marsaxlokk. Both restaurants are alleged to be involved in laundering money linked to oil smuggling.
The pair had been the subjects of search warrants and were arrested last year during a large scale police anti smuggling operation which led to the arraignments of ex-footballers Darren Debono and Jeffrey Chetcuti, together with auditor Chris Baldacchino and fuel trader Gordon Debono.
A magistrate has indicted the step-daughter of ex-footballer Darren Debono and a former high-ranking bank official, declaring that there is sufficient evidence for them to stand trial for alleged money-laundering.
The ruling was delivered against Florinda Sultana and Albert Buttigieg, after criminal proceedings kicked off against them last week over their involvement in a number of commercial entities operating the Porticello - former Scoglitti- restaurant at Valletta and Capo Mulini at Marsaxlokk, both allegedly involved in laundering funds linked to oil smuggling.
The two had first been targeted by search and arrest warrants late in 2020 during an extensive anti-smuggling police operation which led to the arrest and subsequent arraignment of former footballers Darren Debono and Jeffrey Chetcuti, as well as auditor Chris Baldacchino and fuel trader Gordon Debono, who are all pleading not guilty.