Seguna is facing charges of misappropriating around €500,000 from 150 parishioners. 

What has raised eyebrows is Seguna holding 10 separate accounts at BOV, HSBC and APS. Meanwhile, one account, called ‘masses’, had seen around €107,000 withdrawn over six years, while having a balance of €80,000.

Seguna insisted that those were personal funds donated to him and has maintained that other cash and cheque donations went directly to the church’s maintenance, community work, and charity. 

Police began investigating Seguna in March 2022 after suspicions were raised over his banking activity. 

Namely, his income between 2016 and 2021 had tallied up to €487,511, which did not match with his position as parish priest.

Around €200,000 were cash deposits and around €130,000 were cheque deposits.

Some payments raised eyebrows, namely discrepancies in signatures and payments from a man diagnosed with dementia.

Seguna was also allegedly short on answers during interrogation, insisting that the money was either donations to him in a personal capacity or for the church’s charitable causes. 

However, he was unable to answer and exercised his right to silence when pressed on the issues. 

Still, testimonies from donors have given credence to Seguna’s claims with countless people insisting that they gave the money to Seguna for him to use – and had seen refurbishments he had promised concluded. 

The case will continue on 24th October at 11.30am.

Inspectors Christopher Ellul and Lianne Bonello and lawyers Andrea Zammit and Ramon Bonello Sladden are leading the prosecution. 

Seguna is being represented by lawyers Matthew Xuereb and Alex Scerri Herrera.

Magistrate Natasha Galea Sciberras is presiding over the court.

What do you think of the payments?