VAT fraud ‘ mastermind’ faces drugs, gun charges

The man believed to be the mastermind behind the VAT fraud scandal of 2009 was yesterday charged with being in possession of cocaine and a firearm. Nigel Abela, 38, from Dingli, pleaded not guilty to being in possession of the drug and a pump action long rifle at the end of September 2009, shortly after the scandal was exposed. He was also charged with failing to pay VAT on the gun. In September 2010, the court heard Mr Abela had earned some €186,000 from the scam, money he burnt in a drug habit that cost him about €300 daily. In that case he is facing a list of charges that include receiving bribes, corruption of VAT officials , money laundering, unlawful exaction, lending money without a licence and misappropriation. More details in The Times