A pensioner from Qormi was accused of money laundering after allegedly depositing over €2 million in third-party cheques over six years, cashing them to save her clients a bank visit.

Times of Malta reported that Carmela Borg was charged with money laundering, running an unlicensed banking service and making false tax declarations.

She pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Inspector Robert Azzopardi detailed that between 2014 and 2020, Borg had deposited into local accounts a total of 4,903 cheques written to third parties, valuing €2,095,410.

Borg would cash the cheques while running a business from her home or garage, charging a commission of €7.50 for each transaction.

Around 2,060 cheques amounting to €1,243,951 were deposited at Bank of Valletta, while 2,403 cheques amounting to €722,270 were deposited at HSBC.

Asked about the sum that the woman actually kept for herself, Inspector Azzopardi said that the amount she retained was some €36,800.

Borg’s lawyer argued that “this was an old village practice… [Borg] would charge a couple of euros to spare them going to the bank. It all amounted to a few euros a year, yet she’s been charged as though she was the chief money launderer of Malta.”

Magistrate Donatella Frendo Dimech questioned whether banks assisted and facilitated this and whether they were questioned as part of police investigations.

Her former customers told police that her service was “handy” because she saved them queuing at the bank.

The prosecution has requested a freezing of all her assets, which lawyers objected to, arguing that just the amount of profit she assumed should be frozen.

The case continues.

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