Abandoned animals association's founder cashed cheques at petrol station

A police inspector told a court today how the police had found that Freddie Fenech, the founder of the Association for Abandoned Animals used to cash a large quantity of cheques made out to the association at a petrol station.

Police Inspector Maurice Curmi was giving evidence in the fraud case instituted against Mr Fenech.

He told the court that in April 2009, five volunteers filed a report to the police claiming that Mr Fenech, who is a former CID officer siphoning off thousands of euros in donations. They also claimed he caused cruelty to animals.

During the investigations, Michael Balzan, who owned a petrol station, said that Mr Fenech used to cash 15 to 20 cheques every two or three weeks for the past six years at his station. The cheques were addressed to the charity and varied in amounts from Lm10 to Lm30. They were addressed to the AAA and some to the AAA president Romina Formosa.

He would also pay for petrol from the donations cashed, the Inspector added.

In a statement, Mr Fenech had told the police that he needed around €2,300 a month to run the charity and admitted to cashing cheques, however, the money was used directly to pay people whom he owed for services rendered to the charity.

He had said that he only cashed the cheques on a Saturday or Sunday because the banks were closed. He insisted he never used any donations for personal use.

Also testifying, Professor Kenneth Wain the NGO Commissioner said that the AAA under Mr Fenech's presidency was registered with the commission. When this issue was raised and he was ousted from the AAA, he requested that the certificate of enrolment be given back to the commission. Mr Fenech gave him a hard time to give the certificate back and only returned it once the police got involved.

The case continues.

Lawyer Caroline Farrugia appeared for Mr Fenech.