A Libyan refugee in Malta, Mohamed Ali Ahmed Elmushraty, known on social media as ‘Lilu King’, was handed another legal blow as his appeal for bail was refused by the court on Tuesday.
The court justified the decision, stating “there was enough prima facie evidence supporting Elmushraty’s indictment.” The ruling concluded that, based on the evidence, Elmushraty needed to provide a suitable answer.
The presiding judge indicated that the alleged crime “was not an isolated incident but appeared to be part of a larger organised criminal network.” Drawing on precedents from the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), the judge highlighted that defendants implicated in organised crime “pose a significant risk of intimidating or pressuring others upon release, which could impede the ongoing investigation.”
The Libyan boxer is also wanted by law enforcement in Tripoli. This is in connection with a raft of crimes ranging from murder to drug trafficking, a police officer who serves as an Interpol liaison testified.
Elmushraty’s previous track record of violating bail conditions on two separate occasions played a key role in the court’s decision. The judge also noted that Elmushraty is alleged to have influenced a witness’s testimony. These factors, coupled with the real risk of fleeing, led to the court denying the bail application.
The court further noted that Elmushraty’s refugee protection had been temporarily withdrawn, suggesting he could not be allowed to freely integrate into society due to these reasons.
The bail proceedings saw increasing tension over a three-hour period, culminating with Franco Debono, Elmushraty’s defence lawyer, accusing the magistrate of prejudiced conduct against his client.
Libyan authorities have asked Malta to detain Elmushraty, and have him extradited to Libya to face charges there, a witness explained.
Despite his allegedly shady past, Elmushraty was in Malta as a refugee, having been granted status in 2015.
Elmushraty was arrested during a drug raid in St Julian’s in May, along with two others. Police subsequently charged him with money laundering, tax evasion, and participating in organised crime.
During cross-examination, Debono questioned the reliability of Libyan institutions, given the civil war in the country. The witness said that the official documents had been issued by Interpol Tripoli, which was on an equal footing as Interpol Floriana.
“He escaped from Libya because he was persecuted, and the state granted him refugee status,” stressed Debono, asking whether the Tripoli authorities had sent “at least one sheet of supporting evidence.”
