Five charged with usury exceeding €450,000

Four men and two women were yesterday accused of usury, with the amounts exceeding €450,000. Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera heard Anthony Borg, 38, of Marsascala, known as Il-Bona; Mario Gauci, 40, of Mqabba, known as Wang Wang; Carmel Mangion, 55,...

Four men and two women were yesterday accused of usury, with the amounts exceeding €450,000.

Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera heard Anthony Borg, 38, of Marsascala, known as Il-Bona; Mario Gauci, 40, of Mqabba, known as Wang Wang; Carmel Mangion, 55, of San Ġwann; Maurizio Zahra, 29, of Valletta; Doreen Magri, 37, of Valletta; and Mary Muscat, 53, of Qawra pleaded not guilty.

They were charged with usury, or illegally loaning money at high interest rates, in June and the previous years.

Mr Borg, Mr Zahra and Mr Gauci were also charged with relapsing.

All were granted bail against a €2,000 deposit and a personal guarantee of €3,000 each.

Police Inspector Yvonne Farrugia prosecuted.

Lawyers Roberto Montalto, Joseph Giglio, Michael Sciriha, Franco Debono and Giannella Caruana Curran represented the accused.

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