More Supermarket case adjourned after Ryan Schembri tests positive for COVID-19 in prison

The compilation of evidence against Ryan Schebmri, who was recently brought to Malta to face money laundering and fraud charges hit a snag on day one, after the accused tested positive for Covid 19 in prison. 

The case will continue in May, after Schembri’s quarantine period ends. 

In the brief sitting on Tuesday, which Schembri followed from Corradino Prison via video-link, prosecuting lawyer Francesco Refalo exhibited orders issued by the Attorney General under the Investment Services Act. A prison officer exhibited a medical certificate relating to the accused, informing the court that Schembri’s quarantine ends on May 2, pending a negative PCR swab. Magistrate Donatella Frendo Dimech adjourned the case to May 11.

Schembri, cousin to former chief of staff Keith Schembri, had fled the country in 2014 with a reported €40 million in debts left behind from the More Supermarkets crash. He is believed to have borrowed large sums of money from entrepreneurs, before finding he was unable to pay back the loans, originally intended for an ambitious import-export operation.

As boss of the bankrupt More supermarket chain, Schembri could be connected to the supermarket debt that led to the murder of lawyer Carmel Chircop. Chircop had been one of the ‘investors’ in the mysterious More Supermarkets bust. The lawyer had loaned €750,000 to More Supermarkets in March 2014.

Schembri had initially fled to Dubai, where he lived with partner Aviva Ryan. Legal sources told MaltaToday that it was initially impossible to extradite him from the UAE, due to the fact that there is no extradition treaty between the two countries. No charges were filed against him at that time.

At some point after that, the couple subsequently moved to London, and later to Scotland, living under the radar.

Schembri was arrested in Scotland last week. The breakthrough in the case came when UK authorities had informed their Maltese counterparts that Schembri had been fined for speeding there. This had led to an investigation by the Maltese police which found evidence showing that Schembri resided in the United Kingdom and had bank accounts, as well as a partner there. 

13:10 And the sitting comes to an end. The case is adjourned to 11 May. Nicole Meilak

13:08 A medical certificate is exhibited by a prison officer. He informs the court that Schembri's quarantine ends on May 2, pending a negative PCR swab. Nicole Meilak

13:05 The video link with Schembri has just been established. Schembri is in quarantine in prison due to COVID-19. Nicole Meilak

13:04 Meanwhile, prosecuting lawyer Francesco Refalo exhibits orders issued by the Attorney General under the Investment Services Act. Nicole Meilak

13:02 Today's sitting is set to be a quick one. The parties have already agreed that the sitting be adjourned to 11 May. That sitting is expected to take 3 hours, between 9-12pm. Nicole Meilak

12:59 The sitting is starting. Schembri is going to follow the proceedings from the Corradino Correctional Facility via video conferencing. Nicole Meilak

12:58 Good afternoon. Our court reporter Matthew Agius is at the Valletta law court covering the compilation of evidence against Ryan Schembri. Nicole Meilak

He was arrested on the strength of a European Arrest Warrant that had been issued by Interpol some years back. Maltese police were present in Scotland for the arrest.

Lawyer Roberto Montalto is defence counsel to Schembri.