A mother and daughter aged 43 and 22 are undergoing trial by jury accused of money laundering between 2000 and 2002.

Carmen and Stephanie Butler of Birzebbuga are alleged to have made 19 large transactions and deposits when they were not in regular employment. The prosecution is alleging that the deposits were made on behalf of Charles Butler, Carmen’s husband. They deny the charges.

Prosecutor Aaron Bugeja told the court that Stephanie Butler had two accounts. One was a regular account while in the second, over a period of 22 months, suspicious deposits of Lm24,000 were made. This account could be accessed by her and her mother.

The trial is being heard before Mr Justice Giannino Caruana Demajo.

Dr Aaron Bugeja from the Attorney General’s office is leading the prosecution. Anglu Farrugia and Edward Gatt are defence counsel.