Bail for man accused of laundering drug money

A former travel agent charged in connection with a heroin trafficking case was released on bail this morning, after he pleaded not guilty to money laundering charges.

The 31-year-old Sliema resident, who cannot be named by order of the court, was presented under arrest before Magistrate Carol Peralta and charged with having wired drug money from Germany to Malta through Western Union.

The case is connected to that of Clive Butler, a well known offshore power boat driver, who had been arrested in Malta in 2013 after a 2011 drug bust in Germany, where German police had intercepted a car with three Lithuanian men, who were found to be carrying 2.2 kgs of high grade heroin.

The Lithuanians had allegedly told German and Maltese investigators that Butler had overseen the importation of considerable consignments of drugs to Malta. Butler had been granted bail in 2013 against a €50,000 personal guarantee.

In court this morning, lawyer Giannella De Marco, leading the man's legal team, told the court that her client would be pleading not guilty and requested bail. She pointed out that the accused had been granted police bail several times in the four years since the offence took place and had fully cooperated with the police.

Prosecuting inspector Herman Mula said he opposed the granting of bail, due to the gravity of the case.

Inspector Mula explained that the accused was arraigned now after the British authorities had sent several letters rogatory in connection with this case. The court, however, granted the accused bail against a deposit of €2,000 and a personal guarantee of €8,000.

Lawyers Gianluca Caruana Curran and Stephen Tonna Lowell also appeared for the accused.