Violent usurer took man's house and boat over €2,000 loan, court told

A court has heard how a man who borrowed €2,000 from a person accused of usury ended up handing over his house keys and boat as payment for the €130,000 demanded as capital plus interest on the original sum.

Before magistrate Aaron Bugeja this afternoon, inspector Rennie Stivala summoned the victim, a self-employed plumber and electrician whose name is being withheld at the order of the court, to testify in criminal proceedings against Dunstan Caruana. 

The man explained how in January 2013, he had borrowed €15,000 from Joseph Manicaro known as Zu Zu. However, Manicaro had later transferred this credit to the accused in this case, Dunstan Caruana, who promptly doubled the amount due, raising it to €30,000, citing accumulated interest.

A deed of loan was signed before notary Charles Vella Zarb, he said. The victim, who took the witness stand today, had bound himself to pay 5% per month. On another occasion the victim and Caruana had placed € 5,000 bets on the outcome of the general election. The victim lost that bet and Caruana had then allegedly demanded a further €5,000, he claimed.

Seemingly unable to learn from the experience, the victim had later borrowed €2,000 from the accused, who afterwards demanded some €20,000 in return. Before the same notary, the victim bound himself to pay Caruana around €1,200 per month. He even transferred a boat worth €15,000 to the accused in an effort to reduce the staggering debt. The court heard the man claim that the accused had always insisted on being paid in cash, never by cheque.

The hapless debtor said he ended up transferring ownership of his home, together with his house keys to the accused.

On occasions where he missed a payment, the victim claimed that the accused would call him or go to his house, or workplace, threatening him and his children with violence. Sometimes the threats would be followed up with action and he would suffer beatings at the hands of the accused. One violent incident took place on the victim's own doorstep in June this year, after he had stopped making payments.

Under cross-examination by Dunstan Caruana's lawyer Stephen Tonna Lowell, the victim denied having ever asked the accused for money in order to set up a joint business venture.

The case was adjourned to December for more witnesses to testify.

Lawyer Jason Azzopardi is appearing parte civile on behalf of the victim.