A list of 14 shops which were targeted by three people using fake €50 banknotes in Gozo last month was found in the car the trio had been using, a court heard today. All of the names had been ticked.

Inspector Jonathan Ferris from the Economic Crimes Unit was giving evidence in the case against Jordan Azzopardi, 26 from Iklin, Naomi Tanti, 21 from Birkirkara and Silvio Camilleri, 31 from Brikirkara, who stand accused of being in possession and making use of counterfeit money. The trio allegedly made a €500 profit from the change they were given.

The Inspector said the Victoria Police station had received reports of fake money being used at a number of shops on 16 December. The shopkeepers reported that men wearing sunglasses and wigs had purchased small items – such as two bottles of iced tea or coke – and paid for them with €50 banknotes.

One of the shopkeepers said the person who made a purchase using a fake banknote made off in a Toyota Auris. He reported that there were at least three people in the car. (The Malta Independent revealed last week that the car belongs to Naxxar PL councillor Clifford Galea, who said he lent his car to his friends. Police sources said Mr Galea was in Malta at the time and nothing points towards any involvement by him in this case).

The police checked all cars boarding the Gozo ferry but the Toyota was later found in Marsalforn. Mr Azzopardi and Ms Tanti were arrested at an apartment they had rented. Police found a number of items inside, including pet food, poinsettias and wrapping paper. They also found a small amount of cannabis resin. Inspector Ferris said the accused refused to cooperate and denied having made use of fake banknotes. By the following morning the police had received a total of 14 reports.

Once the pair was brought to Malta the police searched their homes. They found a bar of cannabis resin weighing 77 grams and a bag of suspected cocaine weighing around 53 grams in Tanti’s bedroom. She took responsibility for the drugs, saying that she smoked up to eight joints a day and spent around €500 a month on cannabis.

The police also spoke to the Marsalforn flat owner, who said that originally four people were supposed to have stayed for one night but one dropped out.

The two were summoned to the police HQ again on 26 December but kept insisting that they knew nothing. By this point the police had also received a tip off about Mr Camilleri, who was also arrested.

Inspector Ferris presented all the items purchased by the trio in court. There were subtle smiles all around as he and Inspector Matthew Vella took out several bottles of ice tea, two multi plugs, cans of pet food, crisps, a panettone, three poinsettias and a cake out of an evidence bag. They also exhibited (cigarette) rolling paper and aluminium foil rolls, which are allegedly related to drug taking.

Inspector Ferris described the case as being “watertight,” pointing out that a list with all the targeted shops was found in the Toyota. The owner, Clifford Galea, said the car was spotless when he lent it to Mr Azzopardi yet the police found wigs and a pair of sunglasses, which were currently being analysed for DNA.

The car had been recognised by at least one of the shopkeepers.  He also exhibited still shots taken from CCTV footage.

Cross-examined by defence lawyer Arthur Azzopardi, Inspector Ferris said the clothes worn by the men caught on CCTV were not found. Dr Azzopardi also pointed out that his client, Jordan Azzopardi, has a neck tattoo which was not visible on the person shown in the footage, despite his shirt collar being open.

Three witnesses took the witness stand. The first, Paul Cassar, said a man wearing large sunglasses and a cap and sporting a ponytail had paid for a poinsettia plant with a €50 note. He said Mr Azzopardi looked a lot like the person he was referring to. He did not recall seeing a tattoo on the man’s neck and said they had not spoken a single word.

Supermarket owner Joseph Bonnici said counterfeit money was used to buy a bottle of ice tea from his shop but said he was not physically present at the time.

George Xuereb, a pet shop owner, said he immediately noticed that the €50 banknote was fake when it was handed to him by a man similar in appearance to Silvio Camilleri. The man, he said, managed to run away before he could catch him.

The prosecution believes that a fourth person is involved, mainly because the original Marsalforn booking was for four people.

The case continues on Tuesday 12 January.  Lawyer Arthur Azzopardi is appearing for Ms Tanti and Mr Azzopardi while Dr Noe Bianco is appearing for Mr Camilleri. Inspectors Jonathan Ferris and Matthew Vella are prosecuting.