Companion of murdered criminal Joseph Cutajar ‘il-Lion’ cleared of money laundering

A court has acquitted the partner of murdered underworld figure Joseph Cutajar ‘il-Lion’ of money laundering.

In 2012 47 year-old Sharon Camilleri was charged alongside Cutajar with trying to legitimise the proceeds of a number of crimes thought to have been committed by her partner, after investigations revealed that he had been registered as unemployed since 2003, but held numerous bank accounts and safety deposit boxes under Camilleri’s name.

Cutajar was well known to the police at the time, being suspected of involvment in a number of thefts and hold-ups with which he was, however, never charged. At the time Cutajar had also been investigated over the murder of Kevin Gatt, 32 of Ghaxaq, and Stephen Zammit, 32 of Fgura, who were found dead near his car in Mill Street in Mosta.

Camilleri was rendered sole defendant after the December 2012 murder of Joseph Cutajar during a series of gangland-style shootings that shocked the Maltese islands. Cutajar, 46, from Marsascala was found dead in his car, having been shot 12 times with a Kalashnikov assault rifle.

The investigations into the allegations of money laundering discovered that Cutajar owned three cars – a BMW 320, a Mitsubishi Colt and a Mitsubishi Pajero – and provided for his two infant children whom he had with Camilleri, as well as other progeny from previous relationships, in spite of being unemployed. These were in addition to a boat registered in his name and a 26-foot yacht christened ‘Twinkle’ registered in Camilleri’s name.

After police discovered that Cutajar had been using a safety deposit box at a BOV branch in Marsascala, also in Camilleri’s name, they began investigating the possibility of money laundering and discovered a number of bank accounts and safety deposit boxes registered to the accused and his partner.

One safety deposit box in Camilleri’s name was found to contain €82,080 and jewellery.

Neither of the couple had declared any form of income since 2004 and had been receiving unemployment and social benefits amounting to €111.74 and €179.48 per week, respectively. Cutajar’s last registered employment was in 2003 and Camilleri’s 1998.

Neither of the accused answered any questions during interrogation and had both refused to speak to lawyer. They were charged on 16 May 2012.

In his judgement on the case, Magistrate Joe Mifsud held that the link between the money found in the defendant’s possession and their criminal activity had not been proven. The evidence only pointed to Camilleri being in a relationship with a person involved in criminality.

The defendant had released a statement attributing her wealth to a series of past relationships she had, mentioning one man in particular, who had even bought her a house. Part of her fortune actually belonged to her mother, she said, explaining that she was holding it on her behalf while the mother's separation proceedings were underway. She said that her sister remained close to her father, while she remained close to her mother leading to the mother asking the defendant to safeguard her money.

The court observed that a relationship should not be built on material wealth. “If a relationship is based on these things, the person will be building on sand not a solid foundation, as it seems has happened to the accused.” 

Magistrate Mifsud pointed out that he was not naïve and, although he had his doubts as to the provenance of her fortune, there was no proof that what she had claimed was not true. He pointed to the established doctrine of in dubio pro reo, saying that doubts in criminal proceedings always militate in favour of the accused.

As the charges had not been proven beyond reasonable doubt, Camilleri was acquitted.