John Dalli’s two daughters in court on fraud charges

The two daughters of disgraced former EU Commissioner John Dalli yesterday appeared in court accused of fraud and of being the masterminds behind a Ponzi scheme which defrauded investors out of their life savings.

Louise Dalli and Claire Gauci Borda are facing charges of money laundering, misappropriation of funds, fraud, making a false declaration to a public authority and the falsification and use of documents.

They were taken to court together with Eloise Marie Corbin Klein, Charles Ray Jackson, Elizabeth Jean Jackson and Robert Mitchell McIvor, all of whom face similar charges.

Gauci Borda is also accused of breaching the Money Laundering And Financing Of Terrorism Act and with failing to carry out her professional duties as an accountant and auditor.

The two Dalli siblings followed proceedings together with Jackson and McIvor.

When Magistrate Aaron Bugeja, presiding over the case, observed that two of the co-accused were absent, Dr Arthur Azzopardi, assisting the four English-speaking co-accused explained that Corbin Klein and Jackson have been home bound for the past two years on account of poor health.

The court ordered that the two co-accused be examined by a court-appointed medico-legal expert to determine whether there existed any medical condition or other lawful impediment to them being present in court. This expert report is to be submitted before the next sitting later this month.

Dr Azzopardi further suggested that the same expert would determine not only whether his clients could be physically present in court, but also whether they were capable of instructing their counsel.

Accepting this suggestion, the court deferred the case to a later date pending the completion of the medico-legal report.

Inspector Yvonne Farrugia prosecuted.

Lawyers Stephen Tonna Lowell and Stefano Filletti were counsel to the Dalli sisters.

Lawyer Arthur Azzopardi was counsel to the other co-accused.