Degiorgio brothers granted bail in money laundering case

Magistrate Joe Mifsud has granted bail to Alfred and George Degiorgio on money laundering charges. A third accused, Anca Adelina Pop had been granted bail in a previous sitting.

The compilation of evidence against brothers Alfred and George Degiorgio and George Degiorgio's partner Anca Adelina Pop continued today.

The three are all being accused with a series of money laundering-related offences. The two brothers, Alfred Degiorgio, ‘il-Fulu’, and George Degiorgio, ‘ic-Ciniz’, are accused, in a separate case, of the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.

In a studied and meticulously-researched 23-page decree, the court noted that the reasonableness of withholding bail depended on the circumstances of the case. Citing a raft of case law he said it was the exception not the rule that a person is denied bail. In view of the fact that nine sittings had been held and 44 witnesses heard, the magistrate decreed that the men could be released against a personal guarantee of €30,000 and a deposit of €20,000 each.

READ MORE: Caruana Galizia murder suspects arraigned on money laundering charges

The court said it had no access to the case about the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia and the case was distinct. The court’s decision did not bind other courts, said the magistrate. Irrespective of the decision, the accused will not be released from arrest, due to the separate, ongoing, murder proceedings.

Lawyer David Gatt appeared for Adelina Pop while lawyer William Cuschieri appeared for the Degiorgio brothers.
Superintendent Antonovitch Muscat prosecuted.