#Valletta restaurants cracked#

Marvin McKay confirmed documents showing that the Valletta restaurant had been leased to Darren Debono in 2013 for 30 years at a monthly rent of в‚¬3,650 and a в‚¬130,000 upfront payment.В He explained further that in 2017, following DebonoвЂ™s arrest, Sultana had approached him saying that they could no longer run the Valletta restaurant. The man still registered as the present-day lessee took the witness stand next. The department would have to verify any possible breach of the management agreement, the court was told. One file concerned the lease while a second file concerned an encroachment permit granted by the Lands Authority to Al Mare to set out tables and chairs. вЂњTo date the lease is still in the name of Marvin McKay,вЂќ explained the witness, presenting all relative lease agreements in court. Those names were not acknowledged by the department, said the official, making reference to two applications filed by Sultana and Debono. When looking up documentation linked to the lease on the tenement which formerly housed the old Valletta police station, it was вЂњrather strangeвЂќ that he had come across two applications by persons who had nothing to do with the lease, Bajada said. There were two files linked to the Valletta restaurant in the records of the Lands Authority, official Martin Bajada testified.

#Valletta restaurants cracked#

The lease on the place, later renamed Scoglitti and subsequently Porticello, was still in the name of Marvin McKay, a senior lands official explained when testifying at the ongoing proceedings against Florinda Sultana who stands accused of money laundering alongside former bank official Albert Buttigieg.Д«oth are facing criminal action over their roles in two fish restaurants, Porticello in Valletta and Capo Mulini in Marsaxlokk, allegedly linked to funds derived from oil smuggling.Д«oth Sultana and Buttigieg were targeted in an extensive police operation last year which cracked down on a в‚¬30 million fuel smuggling racket with funds allegedly traced to the two restaurants run by Darren Debono. That restaurant, originally named Al Mare, was years later handed down by Anthony McKay to his son Marvin upon retirement and a new lease agreement was drawn up with the Lands Authority, a court was told.

The site of the old Valletta police station was originally leased out to Anthony McKay under a tender to convert the premises into a bar and restaurant. There are a number of romantic Valletta waterfront restaurants - Valletta restaurants with a view.Д¬afГ© culture is very much the thing to do when in Valletta, but if you want to know more about how, where and when to eat in in the city take a look at our Maltese dining guide.A Valletta fish restaurant at the centre of money laundering proceedings against Darren DebonoвЂ™s stepdaughter is still registered on public records in the name of the official lessee. Both are indistinct little cafes that are said to serve the highest quality hot drinks in the capital. They have a great range of gelatos on offer for every taste, whether you prefer simple vanilla or want to mix it up with tiramisu, caramel or passion fruit.ДЄnd if youвЂ™re in the mood for a coffee or tea in the afternoon, make sure to visit AвЂ™s or L'ingliz Tea Room. The most popular spot for the delicious treat is Amorino Malta.

When you need to cool down and get your sweet tooth taken care of, gelato is the order of the day in Valletta. Cafe Cordina is also a must on your list of places to eat in Valletta. And if youвЂ™re a vegetarian, Soul Food on Merchants Street has a hearty menu of veggie loaded plates cooked in a local style.

If youвЂ™re a fan of prawns this is the place for you. Both serve up a true flavour of what Maltese and Mediterranean cuisine is all about with fresh seafood up for grabs. For guests staying in the exquisite Phoenicia Hotel, youвЂ™d be remiss if you didnвЂ™t visit the Pegasus or Haywharf Restaurant & Clubhouse.