Man charged over illegal lottery

A court has remanded a man in custody after he was charged with running an illegal lottery.

37-year-old Chris Farrugia from Zabbar appeared in court without a lawyer. Inspectors Roderick Attard and Chantelle Casha charged the man with organising an unlicensed lottery, as well as aggravated theft from a house in Zejtun. He was also accused of handling stolen property and participating in unauthorised gambling. The man was also charged with committing a crime during the operative period of a suspended sentence and relapsing.

The court was told that Farrugia was arrested while selling lottery tickets in Fgura. Police investigations revealed that he was organising the lottery and had no licence to do so.

The accused, who had refused legal assistance, tried to plead guilty but magistrate Neville Camilleri, after assessing the man’s confused state, refused to accept the admission without the accused being assisted by a lawyer.

A not guilty plea was entered on the man’s behalf. “You’d better speak to a lawyer, sir” said the magistrate, explaining to the accused that it was in his interest to do so.

The man was remanded in custody.