A Chilean businessman currently contesting an extradition order before the Maltese courts has had his bail deposit raised to €100,000 after an appeal by the Office of the Attorney General.

Alberto Chang-Raji is wanted to face criminal charges before the Chilean courts for having allegedly defrauded some 100,000 investors of their funds, totalling $100 million.

Before the criminal court of appeal, presided by Mr Justice Antonio Mizzi, lawyers Elaine Mercieca and Ishmael Psaila from the office of the Attorney General argued that the bail conditions imposed by the first court should be made more stringent since the option of house arrest granted to the man was "not an option at all."

The court was told that the tampering with evidence was a realistic possibility. Moreover, the court was informed that Mr Chang-Raji's application for a residence permit had been turned down by the Maltese authorities in view of the man's current predicament. The police also had proof that the man had transferred his assets out of Malta.

Defence lawyers argued that their client had spent the past nine months in close cooperation with the police in Malta and had issued various statements to the media so as to make public his personal situation. The local authorities had no problem in locating Mr Chang-Raji since he had registered the address of his Sliema apartment for IIP purposes. Rather than flee justice, the man had willingly turned up in court. "He didn't try to hide, he came to court......by taxi."

The court declared that Mr Chang-Raji was to be released from police custody only if he managed to deposit the sum of €100,000 at the court registry.

Lawyers Stefano Filletti and Stephen Tonna Lowell were defence counsel.