Bank of Valletta insisted this morning that it is not involved in any legal battle involving funds belonging to Mutassim Gaddafi, the late dictator's son.

The Wall Street Journal reported that the Libyan government is seeking to recover millions deposited in the bank by Mutassim.

Mutassim was killed in the uprising in Libya in 2011.

The Libyan government claims the funds belong to the state and should be returned to it.

The Journal reports how Mutassim regularly used his BOV credit card to spend thousands of dollars on shopping binges in Rome, Beverly Hills and Cannes. However millions remained in his account when he was killed near Sirte in October 2011.

BOV Chief Executive Charles Borg told Times of Malta that the legal battle involved the Libyan government and Gaddafi's heirs.

Mr Borg said he could not comment on funds deposited by clients, but he confirmed the account was opened years ago, after the necessary due diligence.

Asked if a request had been made for the funds to be handed to the Libyan government, he pointed out that accounts believed to belong to the Gaddafi family are currently frozen in terms of UN sanctions. 

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