Charged with money laundering

A court yesterday heard how a woman and her daughter had deposited €55,920 (Lm24, 000) in a bank while largely unemployed but failed to explain where the money had come from.

Carmen and Stephanie Butler from Birżebbuġa appeared in court yesterday morning at the start of their trial by jury on charges of money laundering between May 2000 and February 2002.

The court heard how over a period of 22 months the two women had deposited large amounts in two accounts held with HSBC bank.

Taking the witness stand Police Inspector Ian Abdilla, from the economic crimes unit, said Stephanie Butler had opened two accounts with HSBC. The first had average activity in keeping with the type of lifestyle she was leading but the second had raised suspicions.

Inspector Abdilla explained that the girl had left school in fourth form at just 16, when she started working as a chambermaid. "The first account corresponded to this."

The second account that she opened, however, had large amounts deposited into it and this had made the bank suspicious. Both women had access to the account and both made deposits. Inspector Abdilla said the family had no business or property and her father was well known to them - he is under arrest in Italy on charges of fraud, human trafficking and homicide.

In his opening speech Aaron Bugeja, representing the Attorney General's office, said there was no way that Ms Butler could have ever earned that much in 22 months. "Even if you live on water alone you will never manage to save €55,920 (Lm24, 000) on an average salary in such a short time".

He said her father Carmelo Butler had stopped working full-time in the late 1990s and yet he drove an Alfa Romeo, his wife drove a Range Rover and they had a power boat.

Inspector Abdilla said they had noticed some inconsistencies in their statements given to the police because they could not justify their lifestyles; the only person who worked in the family was Stephanie and that was on an on-and-off basis. He said it was strange that a 16-year-old girl had deposited such a large amount in so little time.

The case continues this morning.

Lawyers Anġlu Farrugia and Edward Gatt are defence counsel.