Jeweller defrauded of €75,000 in fake gold purchase

Alphonse Nsiala Dimbongi, 44 years old and from the Congo, was remanded in custody after pleading not guilty of defrauding a jeweller €75,000 for the purchase of fake gold.

Prosecuting inspector Sandro Millo explained to the court that Marsa jeweller Louis Carabott had agreed to purchase gold from two Congolese nationals. The sellers passed a sample of the gold to the jeweller who confirmed the gold's purity and agreed to purchase €75,000 in gold. The deal took place at the Waterfront Hotel in Gzira on 21 October. However, when Carabott checked the purchased gold, he realised it was all fake.

In the early hours of Tuesday, at around 3.00am, police detailed at the Sea Port terminal arrested the two Congolese nationals. The jeweller managed to recover only €17,000 of the money he paid the two fraudsters.

56-year-old Josè Molita Bosembo was yesterday remanded in custody by Magistrate Anthony Vella. His accomplice, Alphonse Nsiala Dimbongi, could not be taken to court as he was recovered at Mater Dei.

Dimbongi was today arraigned in court and pleaded not guilty to the charges levelled against him. Magistrate Audrey Demicoli remanded the accused in custody. On being escorted out of court, the accused resisted police officers and shouted abuse at the journalists present outside. He was restrained by the two prosecuting officers and taken to prison.