Court expert testifies how alleged money launderer had thousands of photos of women on his electronic devices that came from hidden toilet cameras • Compilation of evidence against Florinda Sultana and Albert Buttigieg continues
A magistrates’ court has ordered the police to investigate “thousands” of images retrieved from a camera hidden inside a ladies’ bathroom discovered during money-laundering investigations.
The snippet of information was divulged in court on Monday when criminal proceedings resumed against Florinda Sultana and Albert Buttigieg who are currently pleading not guilty to involvement in the running of two fish restaurants, allegedly used to launder funds linked to oil smuggling.
When testifying against Buttigieg, IT expert Martin Bajada said that his task had consisted in examining some 32 electronic devices, which yielded 458 gigabytes of data collected in 81 boxes of evidence.
Of all the devices seized during police raids, only three pen drives and a laptop hard disk were relevant for further investigations for money-laundering purposes.
Two architects, Daniel Micallef and Claude Mallia testified to their relationship with Scoglitti.
Micallef said he had been commissioned to carry out architectural works at the restaurant by Debono on 16 April 2014. He had filed an application for a Development Notification Order in Debono’s name. Another application was filed to make a tent on the premises into a permanent structure, add solar panels and other small jobs, but the Planning Board had recommended a refusal.
The application for Scoglitti was then withdrawn. In this case the application was made by Debono as an individual. On 8 March 2018, an enforcement notice was issued to Florinda Sultana. “When this happens the solutions are two: Either you remove the structure or apply to sanction.” In this case an application to sanction was filed by Sultana.
A vote by the Planning Authority approving the demolition of Walmarville, an iconic modernist house in Balzan, was made in an irregular manner and could leave the decision open to appeal, Times of Malta has learnt.
The Planning Commission board, with Anthony Camilleri stepping in as chairman in the absence of its actual chairman, Claude Mallia, and attended by member Stephanie Baldacchino, voted in favour of an application to demolish the house to make way for a maisonette and three apartments, including a pool at penthouse level, with a garage and four car spaces at basement level.
Sometimes referred to as the Diamond House, Walmarville has an iconic pink façade that features signature green, diamond-shaped glass panels incorporated in the galvanised steel gates and railings that face Old Railway Street.
The former chairman of the Planning Commission, Simon Saliba, has cried foul over his removal, claiming that the move was illegal.
In a judicial protest filed on Thursday against Environment Minister Aaron Farrugia and the Planning Authority, Saliba insisted that his removal was illegal because it did not follow a parliamentary resolution as laid down in the law.
Saliba was removed from his position last November, months after several environmental NGOs called for his removal because he was siding with developers during hearings. He served as chair of the commission that decides on applications within development zones. He was replaced by Claude Mallia.