A mother and a daughter yesterday started facing a trial by jury, charged with money laundering. The court, presided over by Mr Justice Giannino Caruana Demajo, heard how the police had started investigating a chambermaid with €57,500 (Lm24,000) in her bank account.

The chambermaid, Stephanie Butler, 22, and her 43-year-old mother Carmen Butler, both from Birzebbuga, are facing money laundering charges during the seventh trial by jury to be held this year.

Prosecutor Dr Aaron Bugeja said in court that the defendants gave a different version of events to the police who had questioned them.

The police had noticed that Carmen Butler had power of attorney over the €57,500 account, which was registered in her daughter’s name, who also had another account which reflected her income as a chambermaid.

Carmen Butler, who never worked after getting married, had denied she had invested money in property or that she owned a boat, while her daughter told investigators that they had sold a boat.

In the meantime, the police discovered another bank account registered in Stephanie Butler’s name, in which totalled €27,000 (Lm12,000) after only five deposits

The court heard how the young woman’s father, Charles Butler, was known to the police through his criminal record, and had generated huge amounts of money. Investigators found out that it was really Carmen Butler who had deposited the money into the account, and made transactions with her daughter’s consent.

According to the police, the mother and daughter affected a number of transactions, on and before 25 January 2002, in order to launder Charles Butler’s money, which he earned from his criminal activities.

In fact, the father did not have any bank accounts, and made arrangements for his earnings to be deposited at a bank, or invested in properties in his wife and daughter’s names.

Dr Aaron Bugeja, from the office of the Attorney General prosecuted, while Dr Anglu Farrugia and Dr Edward Gatt were defence counsel to the defendants.