Four years in jail and €2,147 fine for fraud and theft

Anthony Rapa, 44, from Bahar ic-Caghaq was found guilty of fraud, handling counterfeit dollars and having stolen property after fingerprint evidence linked him to the crimes.

The case kicked off after investigating officer Joseph Cordina received a complaint from John Camilleri that the accused had given him counterfeit bills. Court expert Ivan Portelli explained that a fingerprint lifted off the seized counterfeit bills matched that of the accused.

Magistrate Miriam Hayman heard how Anthony Rapa had bought an apartment from Camilleri against a deposit of Lm3,000 (€7,400) and that Rapa kept dragging his heels to sign the contract and pay the remainder. When Inspector Sharon Tanti informed Camilleri that the apartment was suspected of being used for prostitution, he started chasing Rapa for the balance. Rapa held that he could only pay in American dollars.

The accused insisted that Camilleri settle for an exchange of currencies (and went to meet the latter carrying a firearm). When Camilleri agreed, he received a packet of bills worth $100. Rapa then exchanged 22 packets of American dollar bills with Camilleri for Lm50,000 (€118,000). Camilleri realised, however, that the serial numbers on the bills were all the same. Rapa denied these allegations and insisted that he had paid in Maltese currency.

The police searched Rapa's apartment and found computer equipment which had been reported stolen by Carmel Dimech of Italmar Machinery Ltd. From the witness stand, Dimech explained that he knew Rapa, as the accused had dated his daughter for three years.

Magistrate Hayman declared that there was no reason for Camilleri to lie and noted that the accused had already been taken to court on different charges and was under the terms of a suspended sentence. She found Rapa guilty of profiting from fraud, handling counterfeit bills and handling stolen property. In weighing his punishment, Magistrate Hayman took into consideration the 12-month suspended prison term and sentenced Rapa to a total of four years imprisonment and a fine of €2,147.66 for court expenses.

The court ordered that the counterfeit American dollars be passed to the Central Bank.

Inspectors Joseph Cordina and Michael Mallia prosecuted.