Former notary ordered to refund €12,805 to clients

Pierre Falzon, a 57-year old former notary from Qawra, has been condemned by a court to a two-year jail term suspended for four years and ordered to refund €12,805 to clients, whose trust he violated. He has also been placed under a general interdiction for life. Dr Falzon, who voluntarily renounced to his warrant in 2012, was investigated by the Economic Crimes Unit after complaints by clients in 2011 claiming that the notary had failed in his duties towards them. Assistant Police Commissioner Ian Abdilla explained how the complaints were sorted under various categories, one of which related to causa mortis declarations concerning the estates of four individuals, which had adversely affected some ten heirs. It appeared that Notary Falzon had kept to himself monies intended for the Capital Transfers Duty Department. The notary’s misdeeds came to light when the parties concerned discovered that the deeds had not been registered with the department. One family had paid €21,000, another €3,405, a third €9,400 while the fourth family had handed over €1,565. All attempts to contact the notary were unsuccessful, leaving the aggrieved clients with no option but to take their complaints...