Two men deny laundering €100,000 linked to burglary probe
Police tell a court that one of the accused was linked to a series of burglaries dating back to 2023
One of two men charged with laundering around €100,000 was linked by police to a series of burglaries dating back to 2023, a court heard on Friday.
Simon Grixti, 55, and Syed Abbass a 49-year-old British national originally from Pakistan, both deny money laundering charges.
The prosecution told the court that police had been investigating a series of robberies since 2023 but had struggled to make headway in the case until last year.
A robbery in Mosta led the authorities to Abbass, the court heard. After the robbery, Abbass returned to Pakistan in June 2025.
A European Arrest Warrant was issued, as was an international Blue Alert. However, the court heard that Abbass was somehow able to re-enter Malta.
Another robbery took place in January this year, which police suspected Abbass was involved in. He allegedly planned to leave Malta again in February to return to Pakistan, but was arrested at the airport.
Police found several documents on him, including some relating to a financial transaction of around €100,000 to Pakistan, as well as jewellery.
The investigation continued and, in April, a request for an arrest warrant was made in connection with money laundering. Abbass was arrested on April 14. Grixti was also arrested in connection with the alleged laundering of €100,000.
Apart from money laundering, Grixti was also charged with knowingly making a false declaration or statement, or providing false information.
He was further charged with creating or using an invoice, document or accounting record containing false or incomplete information, or unlawfully omitting to record a payment, with the intent to commit, conceal or disguise an offence.
Grixti was also charged with conducting banking business in or from Malta without being a company licensed by the competent authority under the Banking Act.
Abbass was separately charged with the theft of cash and jewellery valued at around €2,329.37.
Both men denied the charges.
The court ordered freezing orders against both men. Grixti is subject to a €100,000 freezing order, while Abbass is subject to a €240,000 freezing order.
Magistrate Nadia Helen Vella upheld the defence’s request for bail for Grixti.
He was granted bail on condition that he signs the bail book at a police station three times a week, deposits €10,000 and provides a personal guarantee of €90,000.
The prosecution was led by Inspector Matthew Grech, together with lawyers Alessia Schembri and Neville Galea from the Attorney General’s Office.
Lawyers Alfred Abela and Rene Darmanin appeared for Grixti, while lawyers José Herrera and Martina Herrera appeared for Abbass.
Lawyer Stephen Tonna Lowell appeared for the parte civile.