Fraudster given final chance to reform himself
A fraudster has been a final chance to reform after he was found guilty of fraud, conspiracy, committing a crime while serving a suspended sentence and being in breach of probation.
Michael Camilleri, 34, made headlines in 2012 after it emerged that, in a plan to duplicate some €200,000 illicitly through the assistance of Paul Mangion, he made off with €140,000 belonging to the other man instead.
Camilleri was charged with fraud, theft, conspiracy, committing a crime while serving a suspended sentence, relapsing and committing a crime while under probation. He was cleared of theft but found guilty of the remaining charges.
A grand total of 25 witnesses testified in court.
The court heard how on 27 May 2012, Mangion filed a report claiming he was defrauded some €140,500. Mangion explained to the police how he knew of a man who ran a flea market stall. This man allegedly told Mangion that he was in touch with a person who knew how to falsify money. This man asked Mangion if he would be interested in taking part, and then gave his number to the accused Michael Camilleri.
Camilleri got in touch with Mangion, and asked him for €200,000. He explained that he was in possession of black paper and a certain chemical, that when mixed together with real money could be used to create fake doubles.
The plan allegedly was for Camilleri to make off with the fake €200,000, while Mangion would have his own money returned and receive an added €1,000 as a sort of commission.
Mangion then informed Camilleri that the most he was able to withdraw was €140,000, as confirmed by a Bank of Valletta withdrawal notice, and an extra €500 which he happened to have through the sale of a car. Camilleri was to provide the remaining €60,000.
The pair agreed to meet by the roundabout near the Freeport and then make their way to Mangion’s garage. The court heard how Camilleri, together with an unknown third person had started making arrangements to falsify the money while Mangion left them to their work. He said that the accused and this other person had then left the garage with a sort of hand-luggage, and told Mangion not to open the wrapped foil in the garage as the duplication process was taking place inside and this would disrupt everything.
They agreed to meet the next day, Mangion told the court, at the same spot close to the Freeport. Camilleri allegedly called Mangion to say he was on the way about 45 minutes before they had agreed to meet. After some time, Camilleri did not appear as planned and when Mangion tried to contact him he found one mobile had been switched off, while a woman had answered the second number. This woman allegedly informed Mangion that Camilleri had been arrested and was at the police headquarters in lock up.
Mangion went back to his garage to open up the wrapped-up foil, only to find the black paper and his €140,500 had gone missing.
The accused’s probation officer highlighted that Camilleri is reforming himself. The probation officer’s report spoke of the trauma that shaped the accused when his brother died. The accused was only 14 at the time of his brother’s death. Camilleri is now in a committed relationship, with the couple sharing four children, the officer observed, adding that his relationship with his children is also positive.
Magistrate Joseph Mifsud handed down a four-year probation order, during which the accused will be subjected to random urine tests. The man has also been ordered to join a rehabilitation programme. The courts also ordered a three-year treatment order and ordered the accused to pay court expenses amounting to roughly €5,000.
Lawyers Franco Debono and Amadeus Cachia represented the accused.