A 68-year old money-lender was granted bail upon arraignment for alleged money laundering as well as charging her debtors excessive rates of interest. Lucy Grima, a Qormi pensioner, landed under police suspicion last year following confidential information indicating that the elderly woman was likely involved in usury. A closer look at her banking transactions zoomed in on the names of a married couple who appeared to feature frequently in the records. The husband and wife were summoned by the police, confirming suspicions that Grima was allegedly a loan shark. On December 1, a police search of the woman’s home yielded more documents which brought to light other third parties possibly involved in similar money-lending activities. These individuals were also questioned by the police, confirming suspicions about Grima’s illicit activities, the court was told. A close look at her banking transactions showed a number of cheques that were issued and deposited in her account, while other funds, such as Grima’s pension cheques, remained untouched. Such “phenomenon” led investigators to question how no funds were withdrawn to cover the woman’s daily needs, while hinting at other monies...