University student charged with money laundering

A young Nigerian university student has been remanded in custody after pleading not guilty to possessing 240 grammes of heroin and to money laundering.

Charity Ofame Ovbiagele, 23, residing in Naxxar was allegedly caught by police with the drug at her flat following investigations into money laundering which allegedly led to her, police sources said.

Well dressed and sheepishly standing in the dock, Ms Ovbiagele pleaded not guilty to possessing the drug in circumstances which denote it was not for her exclusive use and money laundering on Saturday night.

During submissions on bail, Police Inspector Pierre Grech said there were still three witnesses to be heard and raised concerns over which address the accused residing at as there were two addresses and also a third as stated on her identity card.

In reply, defence lawyer Gianella Caruana Curran said that her client had been living in Malta for the past six years and was due to graduate in January and in fact had been living with her mother.

Magistrate Antonio Micallef Trigona said that he was going to remand her in custody until Thursday when the prosecution’s three main witnesses would be heard and he would then decide on bail.

Police Inspector Yvonne Farrugia also prosecuted.

Lawyers Steve Tonna Lowell and Gianluca Caruana Curran also appeared for the accused.