An Italian man who is facing criminal proceedings for allegedly defrauding the Casino di Venezia had his bail revoked yesterday and an order for his re-arrest issued after a court heard that he had told a taxi driver that he was prepared to pay him if he helped him flee the

country.

Gaetano Caramazza, 58, is facing criminal proceedings on a number of charges of money-laundering, making false declarations, using false documents and defrauding the Casino Di Venezia.

Yesterday, magistrate Antonio Vella ruled that there was sufficient reason for Mr Carmazza’s bail to be revoked, after hearing that he had approached a taxi driver and told him that he was prepared to pay him if he helped him leave Malta.

However, magistrate Vella ruled that the Lm15,000 that Mr Caramazza had deposited earlier this month in order to be granted bail should not be confiscated, as he had not been charged with breaching bail conditions.

Dr Arthur Azzopardi from the Attorney General’s office prosecuted while Dr Veronique Dalli and Dr Jose Herrera appeared for the Mr Caramazza.