A ring of fraudsters is believed by the police to have drawn up a detailed plan in which they were using a chequebook of the late Salvu Grima who died three years ago leaving no heirs.

Keith Camilleri, 31 of Qormi, was arraigned before Magistrate Neville Camilleri yesterday, charged with defrauding people using cheques of the dead man. According to the charge sheet, Camilleri and others would buy huge quantities of provisions, paying by cheque.

There was a period when the fraudsters had bought nearly all the provisions of coffee in Malta, anti-fraud police say.

Camilleri, who pleaded not guilty, was accused of using the cheques to make purchases of items such as alcohol, foodstuffs, television sets, and electronic equipment, amounting to about €25,000. The purchases were being made after consulting the Yellow Pages when the fraudsters would pose as suppliers and sell their items to various companies.

Camilleri is the first accused to be arraigned by Inspector Jonathan Ferris, Inspector Carol Fabri and Inspector Arthur Mercieca. Other arraignments are expected to follow. Camilleri, who is unemployed, was held in custody.

According to evidence the fraud ring had somehow come into the possession of a cheque book belonging to the late Saviour Grima. Almost daily they consulted the directory and ordered objects in huge quantities to then act as suppliers in the name of Salvu Grima and Sons.

The prosecution said the fraudsters would go round Malta, collect their orders and pay for them by cheque.

Camilleri was charged with using fabricated names in July and in previous months to make illicit gain to the detriment of Digital Zone, Vincent Mifsud Ltd, The Wholesaler Belgroup, Nestle Malta Ltd, G and T Imports, Schembri Import and Export Ltd, J. Calleja Ltd, South Market, Technoworld I.T. Solutions, Beyond and Rotunda Ltd.

He was also charged with relapsing.