Ex-minister`s aide cleared

André Carbonaro, a former aide to Justice Minister Austin Gatt, was yesterday cleared of charges of dealing in foreign currency.

Carbonaro, 26, of Valletta, was, in March 2001, charged with breaching the Exchange Control Act and had his contract with the government terminated when he was arrested and investigated.

Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera noted that Inspector Neville Aquilina testified that Carbonaro`s name had come up in the course of investigations related to breach of exchange control regulations.

The court noted that the police stopped him as he left his office at about 6 p.m on March 13, 2001 and he was taken to the Valletta police station where a search was carried out.

The court said Carbonaro had a packet of cigarettes, a lighter, a wallet, a mobile phone and an envelope containing three cheques.

Two cheques, dated March 5, 2001, were for $23,000 and $12,000 and the third was dated March 12, 2001 and was for $9,753.

Insp. Aquilina said Carbonaro had told him the cheques had been given to him by Atwair Azawam Azawam, a Libyan married to a Maltese. Carbonaro told the police he would change the cheques into Maltese currency and obtain a commission.

The court noted that the police had spoken to Azawam and it resulted that what Carbonaro said was true and that Azawam had obtained the money in a legal manner in connection with his work in Malta.

The court noted that Carbonaro had cashed cheques for the accused before and these were always cashed at a bank, which was an authorised place. What the legislator had in mind was stemming transactions taking place with unauthorised people. The court cited several examples of case-law that strengthened this view.

Being paid a commission for cashing the cheques did not imply breach of exchange control rules, the court said, and acquitted Carbonaro of all charges.

Police Inspector Neville Aquilina prosecuted.

Dr Michael Sciriha and Dr Ian Farrugia appeared for Carbonaro.