Fraud inquiry opened after default on rent

Further details of the web of fraud the police believe a man is responsible for emerged in court yesterday.

Joseph Friggieri, 46, from Msida, who witnesses in three separate cases say owes them close to €800,000, admitted to the police that he stole two cheques to settle the rent of shops last year, the Magistrates’ Court heard.

Police Inspector Yvonne Farrugia testified that the police had received a complaint from a certain Charles Agius who said he had not received any rent for two shops in High Street, Ħamrun. The rental agreement had been done with a certain Olga Buremova to open children’s clothes shops and the accused stood as a guarantor in case rent was not paid.

When the owners of the shop received no payment, they contacted Mr Friggieri who, some time later, gave them two cheques worth €1,890, which translated into three months’ rent.

When the owners went to cash the cheques they realised that these had bounced and it turned out that they had been stolen from businessman Joseph Spiteri, who claims that he was defrauded by Mr Friggieri of about €750,000.

When questioned by the police, Mr Friggieri first denied his involvement but he then admitted to stealing the cheques from Mr Spiteri. The cheques were signed by his wife, Dolores.

Mr Friggieri also stands accused of defrauding businessman Joseph Calleja of €25,630 and Sandro Maggi of about €11,000.