The director of a gaming company operating from Malta has been fined €12,000 after admitting that her firm had failed to pay gaming tax and licence fees in 2013 and 2014.

Director of Orient Play Limited, Liliana Kowalczyk, a 24-year-old Polish national who lives in St Julian’s, appeared before Magistrate Natasha Galea Sciberras.

She was charged with failing to pay the licence fees, renewal fees and other administrative fees and also failing to pay the relevant gaming tax.

Ms Kowalczyk pleaded guilty to the charges brought against her.

In her considerations, Magistrate Galea Sciberras noted that the total amount due to the Malta Gaming Authority by Orient Play Limited amounted to €41,000, representing gaming tax due between May 2013 and December 2014 as well as licence fees due for the years 2013 and 2014.

The court heard how the MGA imposed an administrative fine of €11,001 but this was an alternative to proceedings in court.

Magistrate Galea Sciberras also considered that the company had settled its dues with the authority.

“The court deems it appropriate to impose a fine which, while ranging towards the minimum allowed by law, also takes into account that the company had been given sufficient time to settle its dues.

“Rather than initiating court proceedings immediately, the authority imposed an administrative fine which, however, remained unpaid,” the magistrate said in her decision.

She, therefore, ordered Ms Kowalczyk, who is director and judicial representatives of Orient Play Limited, to pay a fine of €12,000.

Police Inspectors Sean Scicluna and William Scicluna prosecuted.