MUSEUM treasurer may face charges of misappropriating over Lm400,000

A magistrate yesterday ruled there were enough reasons for the indictment of the treasurer of the MUSEUM Christian doctrine society, who is charged with the misappropriation of over Lm400,000.

Magistrate Abigail Lofaro ruled for the indictment of Manueli Catania, 65, of Naxxar who is pleading not guilty to misappropriation and to loaning money without a licence in the past two years.

The magistrate heard Superintendent Neville Aquilina explain how, during investigations, police learned that Kevin Zammit, who was involved in the construction industry, had asked Catania to loan him some Lm50,000. Catania accepted and lent him the money from the MUSEUM's funds against interest.

As time passed Zammit asked Catania to loan him more money but this time Catania felt he should consult with the director of the MUSUEM, who said he would call the executive council to vote on the matter.

Although the council voted against lending money, investigations showed that Catania had lent Zammit over Lm400,000, the superintendent said.

The president of the MUSEUM executive council, Joseph Abdilla, took the witness stand and explained that Catania deposited his own money, which he assumed ran into thousands, into the MUSEUM's funds.

Earlier, Carlo Farrugia, senior manager at the Malta Financial Services Authority's banking unit, said that Catania was not licensed to loan money.

The case continues.

Superintendent Aquilina and Inspector Paul Caruana are prosecuting while Dr Joseph Zammit McKeon appeared for Catania.