Suspended jail term over ‘black money’ scam

Cameroonian national Tchokondi Ngatcheu Arnaud Romuald, admitted to have been part of a conspiracy intended to commit fraud to the detriment of Maltese nationals, in the so called 'black money' scam.

The black money scam, sometimes also known as the "wash wash scam", is a scam where con artists attempt to fraudulently obtain money from a victim by persuading him or her that piles of banknote-sized paper usually dyed black can be washed with a chemical and transform into perfectly legal bank notes.

Romuald, who works as a hotel porter and resides in Spain, had a plane ticket to return to Madrid today, and was handed a two-year jail term, suspended for four and was immediately transferred to the airport. 

Prosecuting Inspector Anne Marie Micallef informed the Court that the Spanish Police have been notified about the accused, and were expected to recieve him on his return.

Micallef also told the Court that a second African is currently being sought in connection with Romuald's arrest.

He was picked up at the airport after a search in his bags yielded stacks of black money, and a one-night stay in Malta.

Under interrogation, Romuald had admitted his role in the attempt to seek Maltese clients to buy into the scam, and also provided them with information related to the rest of the criminal organisation, which is also made up of Nigerians.