CCTV nails suspect in counterfeit bills case

A court yesterday heard how several reports from service stations about counterfeit money being used to operate their automated pumps led the police to search a car inside which they found 22 counterfeit Lm2 bills.

Police Inspector Ian Abdilla was testifying in the compilation of evidence against a 34-year-old Hamrun man, whose name cannot be published by court order, and who is pleading not guilty to making use of false bills, defrauding Paul & Rocco Service Station in Marsa and A. Fenech Service Station in St Paul's Bay and stealing fuel.

The officer told Magistrate Lawrence Quintano how, last month, Paul & Rocco Service Station and A. Fenech Service Station informed the police that Lm2 counterfeit bills were being used at their service stations.

The two stations presented the police with closed circuit television recordings showing a taxi hired by the accused.

The police searched his car where they found a white envelope containing 20 Lm2 bills, under the driver's carpet. Another two Lm2 bills were found in a red pouch in the glove compartment.

During questioning the accused told the police the money was his and he had used some Lm2 notes at the service station. He also identified the person from whom he had obtained the counterfeit notes for Lm30.