Tax Evasion And Money Laundering: El Mushraty Denied Bail After Arrest And Confiscation of Clothes, Cash, Cars
Mohamed Ali Ahmed El Mushraty – alias il-Lilu King – was arrested and brought to court yesterday, where he pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against him – tax evasion, money laundering and connections to organised crime.
The boxer and “self employed” entrepreneur was arrested at around 5:45pm – and large quantities of cash, jewellery and pricey clothes were found in the apartments.
These were confiscated along with a number of luxury vehicles.
His defence council pointed out that though the police investigation was about drugs, and the two other people arrested alongside Lilu were facing drug charges, but the 31-year-old did not have any drug charges made against him.
The prosecution admitted that Lilu had never faced drug-related charges in the past – but tied the apparently suspicious amount of cash found during the arrest to Lilu’s alleged failure to pay taxes in Malta.
Prosecutors – led by Inspector Mark Anthony Mercieca from the Anti-Drug Squad – claimed that money appeared to have been (partially) laundered through purchases of luxury vehicles.
The defence – Franco Debono, Marion Camilleri and Francesca Zarb – responded to this by asking for details about what these vehicles were.
Prosecutors tried to rebuff this by saying the information wasn’t pertinent – though they were overruled and then disclosed more information.
It was confirmed by the prosecution and defence that none of those vehicles are registered under El Mushraty’s name.
El Mushraty pleaded not guilty and said that he is self-employed – before the prosecution objected to the request for release from arrest – citing a risk of obstruction of evidence, as well as the possibility of other crimes being committed.
A defence counsellor argued that the prosecution’s case was not strong enough to deny Lilu bail, and that he was not a flight risk. She argued that he should be released on bail to live in Żebbuġ with his partner until the investigation was concluded.
The court denied this request has not released El Mushraty from arrest.
Follow Lovin Malta’s reporting for updates into this developing story
READ NEXT: Three-Year-Old Falls From Ħaż-Żebbuġ Balcony And Is Hospitalised With Serious Injuries
