Mother guilty of money laundering

A mother was yesterday given a two-year jail term suspended for four years after she was found guilty of money laundering while her daughter was cleared of the same charge.

Carmen Butler was found guilty in a trial by jury by six votes to three and her daughter Stephanie was cleared by eight votes to one.

The two were originally charged with laundering money when they deposited €56,619 (Lm24, 300) through 19 transactions into an HSBC account between May 2002 and February 2004.

In the trial, which started on Monday, witnesses said criminal activities by Carmelo Butler, Mrs Butler's husband, resulted large amounts of money being deposited in the bank.

Mrs Butler testified that she did not know where the money had come from and did not ask any questions when her husband told her to take the money to the bank.

Mr Butler is serving time in prison in Italy after having been found guilty of human trafficking and homicide.

Mr Justice Gianinno Caruana Demajo, who presided over the case, heard defence lawyer Anġlu Farrugia ask for clemency and a suspended sentence as her daughter suffered from serious health problems and required her mother's help.

Before handing down judgement, Mr Justice Caruana Demajo said the crime was serious but this case was particular since the girl had serious health problems and needed the mother to be with her. The court also took into consideration the fact that the jurors had asked for clemency.

Lawyer Aaron Bugeja, from the Attorney General's Office, prosecuted.

Lawyer Edward Gatt also formed part of the defence team.