Dutch woman accused of money laundering - claims she came to Malta to buy clothes

Miriam Helena Parmanand, 42, from The Netherlands, was remanded in custody today after pleading not guilty to money laundering.

Police Inspector Denis Theuma told the court that she arrived on a flight from Amsterdam, which happened to be the same flight taken by a Romanian who was yesterday accused of drug trafficking.

The police had information that the woman was involved in the illicit drug trade and so arrested her at the airport.

The inspector said she was found to be carrying €20,000 in cash and she claimed that she came to Malta for some designer clothes shopping.

Shortly after landing in Malta, she changed her return ticket so that she could return within 12 hours.She later told the police that she had received a call from her husband claiming that their son had hurt himself at school and he needed her to be back at home as soon as possible.

Magistrate Joseph Apap Bologna remanded her in custody as she has no ties to the island.