A foreign inmate was charged yesterday with money laundering amounting to about Lm20,000.

Panama national Domingo Ricardo Duran Navas, 30, was charged with committing the crime between 26 December 2005 and 28 August 2006.

The accused is facing separate proceedings over his alleged involvement in conspiring to import cocaine into Malta, after customs officials found three kilograms of the drug in two packets hidden in a suitcase at the airport last September.

The man was denied bail and remanded in custody.

Magistrate Giovanni Grixti presided over the court. Police Inspector Paul Vassallo prosecuted, while Dr Giannella Caruana Curran and Dr Emmanuel Mallia appeared for the accused.