Mosta couple admit gambling away €35,000 of son's cancer funds
A couple from Mosta has admitted gambling away €35,000 in funds raised to help their son fight cancer.
Ryan Debattista, 31, and Nicole Bezzina, 27, pleaded guilty to defrauding their son and other people who gave them money for his treatment. They also admitted to money laundering.
Debattista was fined €30,000 and Bezzina was fined €20,000 and all of their immovable and moveable property was confiscated.
Times of Malta first revealed last year that the couple was under investigation for misusing the funds meant for the treatment of their sick child.
Magistrate Donatella Frendo Dimech said the couple had exploited the generosity of all those who took pity and showed boundless altruism towards them.
She said they had used funds earned through the hard work of friends and the public to finance their gambling addiction, which brought them nothing but loss.
Rather than appreciate the gestures of generosity, the couple "shamelessly" wasted those monies after "deceiving everyone".
The amount defrauded was €35,000 and that was the sum which the accused had 'self laundered', losing everything they had gained.
The couple was also placed under probation for three years and given a...