Not guilty verdicts have been given to a husband and wife who faced money laundering charges linked to millions of pounds.
A spokesperson for the prosecution told GBC this was due to ‘evidential deficiencies’.
Dale and Angelina Villa were charged in 2022 following what was described as “a protracted and complex investigation” by the Economic Crime Unit at the Royal Gibraltar Police.
At the time, the RGP said the unit had worked closely with the Guardia Civil in their efforts to tackle cross-border organised crime.
Over €200,000 seized from the couple, has been recovered by the Crown under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
When the couple were arrested back in 2022, the Catalan Bay resident, Dale Villa, was accused of being involved in the exportation of large quantities of tobacco and breaching the conditions of a retail license.
Another charge related to his alleged access to, and use of, £15 million worth of property derived from criminal activity.
He was also accused of being in possession of criminal property – a luxury yacht, the ‘Nike Net’, valued at close to £300,000. The vessel was seized at the time of his arrest.
Mr Villa and his wife, Angelina, were also jointly charged with a separate count of possession of criminal property after €207,000 in cash was reportedly found during a search of their residence.
They pleaded not guilty to all counts. The case was sent to the Supreme court, with the couple given bail in the sum of £10,000.
They later sought a judicial review against the Commissioner of Police, claiming the search warrants were unlawful. However, the couple discontinued the action.
The Crown then brought a civil suit against Dale Villa, aiming to recover assets under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
Court documents obtained by GBC show this was not contested, and a recovery order was granted in October.
This means the Crown can keep €207,000 in cash found in a police search of their property.
An RGP spokesperson told GBC this money was “deemed to be criminal property, derived from the excess sales of tobacco in breach of a tobacco licence.”
In the latest development, the Crown offered no evidence in the criminal case against the pair and it was formally discontinued.
GBC understands the couple are now free to pick up their yacht.
Katy Docker reports.
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