Used car importer charged with defrauding nine clients

Duncan Buttigieg, 29 of Ghaxaq was remanded in custody once again this morning by Magistrate Audrey Demicoli, after he was charged with defrauding nine people out of thousands of euro's for cars he was meant to import for them from the United Kingdom.

Buttigieg, was charged that as a director of 'Direct From UK Car Dealer' and of 'Direct Cars Malta', he wilfully defrauded his clients. He entered a not guilty plea.

Inspector Ian Abdilla informed the Court that more reports lodged by other clients are "flooding" the Economic Crimes Unit, asking for an investigation into Buttigieg.

Last week, Duncan Buttigieg was charged with conspiring to burn the garage and car of Inspector Angelo Gafà, another prosecutor from the Economic Crimes Unit.

'Colourful record'

Last September, lawyer Franco Debono had labelled Duncan Buttigieg as a person with a "colourful criminal record."

Debono had made the remark when questioning how Buttigieg was fined €500 despite admitting to drug possession and relapsing.

Buttigieg had testified that he had a serious drug problem, was spending between €3,000 and €5,000 a month to sustain his habit and had racked up a debt of €100,000 with a number of people. He was a witness against Conrad Axisa, who was charged with usury.

Buttigieg had claimed that he owed a small sum to the Axisa, who allegedly  threatened to shoot him in the knees every time he went to buy drugs from him.

They then managed to come to a deal whereby Buttigieg would pay Axisa €650 in €50 instalments, however, once he paid the amount, Axisa claimed he was owed a further €650, which had to be paid at one go.

Buttigieg said he was also told by Axisa to start trafficking drugs for him and it was at that point that he went to the police.

Fraud

Duncan Buttigieg was charged in 2011 with defrauding the company belonging to former Chief Justice Noel Arrigo of some €3,000.

He was also charged with using false documents and someone else's password.

The charges also included making a profit to the detriment of N.M. Arrigo and relapsing.