Carlos Pace has been granted bail in criminal proceedings involving alleged usury and money laundering offences, with the case encompassing three generations of the Pace family who stand accused of the same crimes.
Pace was released from custody after the court upheld his bail request against a €15,000 deposit and a personal guarantee of €35,000.
His brother, Cleaven Pace, who was granted bail three weeks ago, also obtained a reduction in his bail conditions. The court lowered his deposit from €15,000 to €10,000 after the defence argued that he was unable to afford the original amount. The defence submitted that both brothers had already spent a considerable period in preventive custody, a request that was accepted by the court.
The Pace brothers also face separate charges in connection with the alleged theft of 132kg of cannabis from an Armed Forces of Malta barracks in February 2025.
Meanwhile, the court rejected a bail request filed by Maria Grixti, the partner of Keith Pace, leaving her in preventive custody.
The prosecution was led by Inspector Lianne Bonello, assisted by lawyers Neville Galea and Michael Muscat on behalf of the Attorney General.
The accused are represented by lawyers Franco Debono, Marion Camilleri and Adreana Zammit, while lawyers Arthur Azzopardi and Jacob Magri are also appearing for the elderly defendants.
Magistrate Lara Lanfranco presided over the sitting.