Majority of landlords aware their properties were used in 'cash for visas' scheme

The compilation of evidence in the “cash for visas” case involving former Labour party treasurer Joe Sammut continued before Magistrate Doreen Clarke this morning, with police Inspector Lara Butters testifying that the majority of the landlords who had assisted Sammut had admitted to doing so during police interrogation.

The lease agreements were used in the application process for residency permits.

This morning Inspector Butters told the court how the same 14 addresses featured on the majority of the visa applications. Police had called at 12 of the addresses but found that no Libyans were living there so a decision was taken to summon the landlords. Some of them were vacant properties, she said. 

Ten landlords were questioned, said Butters. One landlord, Conrad Pisani, owned three addresses used in the scheme and had admitted his involvement to police and explained how a Libyan, known as Ali, had approached him with a view to using his properties’ addresses for the scheme.

He had told the officer that he had been aware that the agreement was fictitious, but he needed the money as his car wash business was in difficulty at the time. He was paid a €50 on two occasions, said the inspector, and had admitted to forging his father’s signature on the lease agreements.

Desmond Falzon’s had also told police that he had allowed Libyans to use his address in their applications for bank accounts and companies. 

Claude Cefai was linked to two addresses, which were not being rented. He admitted that he had met Ali and allowed him to use a Naxxar address where his father lived and that of his family’s summer residence in St. Paul’s Bay.

Claude's father had been asked by Ali to allow his address to be used as a forwarding address for mail.

Landlord Maria Torkodan had met Ali at the hotel where she worked, said the inspector. He had asked if his clients could use her address. No Libyans ever resided at the apartment, she had added.

Yet another landlord, Simon Attard, was spoken to in August, said Butters. He denied signing any lease agreements for his property. He had, however been asked by his friend Amar Sultan to allow him to use his address for mail. Sultan was one of Sammut’s “Key Professional Introducers” or KPIs, who would approach potential clients.

The police investigation began to gather momentum after these interrogations and that of Sammut and his five employees, said the inspector.

The case continues in November. 

Police Inspectors Jonathan Ferris and Lara Butters prosecuted, whilst lawyer Michael Schiriha and lawyers Franco Galea, Simon Micallef Stafrace and Martin Fenech are appearing for Sammut