After nine sittings and 44 witnesses, brothers George and Alfred Degiorgio, two of the three accused with the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, have been granted bail in separate proceedings over money laundering charges.

In a 23-page long decree, magistrate Joseph Mifsud, presiding over the case, granted the two brothers bail against a €20,000 deposit and a €30,000 personal guarantee each, as well as an obligation to sign the bail book on a daily basis and to abide by a curfew between 8 pm and 7 am.

Making it amply clear that this case was “distinct” from the murder proceedings, magistrate Mifsud cited case law supporting his decision, stating that a case was to be decided upon the evidence put forward and not according to anything extraneous to the proceedings.

Read: Caruana Galizia murder suspects have second bail request in a matter of days dismissed

Reference was made to the AG’s reply to the bail application and to the objection stemming from the fact that these two men were currently facing other proceedings related to the murder.

However, these were extraneous to the money laundering case, Magistrate Mifsud stressed.

In line with established case law and EU directives, personal freedom was the rule and there needed to be sufficient reasons to deny a person of his liberty.

Reference was also made to a case where a man accused of double homicide was granted bail after three sittings. In this case, there had been nine sittings wherein 44 witnesses testified, magistrate Mifsud declared, thereby upholding the request and granting the Degiorgio brothers bail against stringent conditions.

George Degiorgio’s partner, Anca Adelina Pop, had been granted bail in the same proceedings in July.

The two Degiorgio brothers and Ms Pop had all allegedly lived a lavish lifestyle, owning cars and pleasure boats, while claiming to be unemployed, the court has heard.

The investigation into Ms Caruana Galizia’s murder, involving scrutiny of their banking transactions and the money they had, had sparked off the suspicions of their involvement in money laundering activities.

The case continues in December.

Superintendent Antonovitch Muscat prosecuted.
Lawyer William Cuschieri was counsel to the Degiorgio brothers.
Lawyer David Gatt was counsel to Ms Pop.