A former colleague of Dragoș Sprînceană accuses „Ciolacu’s emissary” of scamming people: „I caught him forging payment confirmations from clients,” Răzvan Băncescu
a Romanian who has been living in the US for several years
Băncescu claims that he realized he was going to be cheated by Sprînceană out of $15,000
but allegedly managed to recover about half of the money:
The quoted source also told G4Media that Sprînceană was telling him that he earned less money from clients than was actually the case:
Răzvan Băncescu also told G4Media that Sprînceană also set up other companies to get rid of the financial problems of the older firms:
Dragoș Sprînceană no longer has access to Donald Trump’s close circles:
US financial and judicial documents consulted by G4Media show that some companies in the Gold Coast portfolio
are being sued for tens of millions of euros by other companies in a series of lawsuits
Moreover, dozens of negative reviews are registered on social networks (e.g. LinkedIn) and Google Maps from people claiming to be former employees or collaborators and accusing the company or Dragoș Sprînceană of owing them money
Dragoș Sprînceană did not answer questions about the financial situation of the companies and the accusations made by former employees and collaborators:
According to information obtained by G4Media
Dragoș Sprînceană got to talk to Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu about the possibility of being „Romania’s emissary” in the relationship with the Trump administration through former Minister of Culture Lucian Romașcanu „via Freemasonry”
Lucian Romașcanu vehemently denied that he is a member of Freemasonry and did not want to give details about the US episode:
Dragoș Sprînceană did not answer questions about Freemasonry or about the context in which he came to talk with Prime Minister Ciolacu
but photos from the Masonic conference on February 16-18
show Dragoș Sprînceană at the conference of the Grand Masters of Masons of North America
Dragoș Sprînceană has allegedly set up a Masonic lodge in Constanța (Poseidon)
in order to later set up a similar lodge in the USA (Miami) and thus become the representative of Romanian Freemasonry in the USA
sources close to Dragoș Sprînceană and Silviu Pocora explained to G4Media
The Constanța lodge also includes well-known politicians and businessmen
Silviu Pocora said that he is in very close relations with Dragoș Sprînceană
since the businessman calls Pocora his „godfather”
Pocora was the vice-president of the National Gambling Office
then interim head of the institution since April 2024
after the scandal of the appointment of Cristian Gabriel Pascu
the barber with a hairdresser’s degree obtained at the age of 32 at a private university
Silviu Pocora is the Director General of the National Radiocommunications Company (Radiocom)
He also said that he did not know that Sprînceană had financial problems with his companies
but he also said that he was surprised when he found out from the media that he was proposed as an emissary:
another person who would have helped Sprînceană to create links in the political and administrative environment at the central level is Carmen Drăgan
who was secretary general of the National Agency of Public Servants
later transferred director of the General Services Directorate of the Presidential Administration – General Secretariat of the Presidential Administration
and is currently an advisor to the Court of Auditors
Carmen Dragan denied that she knew Dragoș Sprînceană:
Another character in Sprînceană’s entourage is the Constanța businessman Marius Stamate
also a Freemason according to his declaration of interests
Stamate, who recently became a county councillor for the PSD Constanța, noted in his declaration of assets that he lent 350,000 dollars to Dragoș Sprînceană
Titus Corlățean (PSD) and other influential Romanian entourages
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One of the alleged victims in a human trafficking racket told court on Wednesday her mother in Colombia had been told to caution her daughter against speaking to investigators
She had also been promised that the alleged victims would be remunerated for their silence
a self-employed maintenance worker from Birkirkara; Clint Lawrence D'Amato
a food shop employee from Sliema; Alexandra Suhov Pocora
32-year-old Romanian from St Paul's Bay; Kane Vassallo
a 22-year old barber from Siġġiewi; Gordon Cassar
a 44-year-old maintenance worker from Kalkara; Luca Emanuele Corito
a 30-year old taxi driver from Fgura and Nicolae Efimov
Identifying D’Amato as "Andrés - the person who set up appointments with clients and regularly ferried the girls to work appointments or shopping trips"
the witness said he had immediately responded to her call for help
who told D’Amato about the "very bad pain" she was experiencing "in her private parts"
She said the man “immediately” took her for emergency treatment
“The pain was out of this world,” said the young Colombian woman when recounting the episode during her lengthy cross-examination
D'Amato accompanied her to a private hospital where she was administered intravenous medication
prescribed other medicine and then discharged
She covered the €250 hospital expenses and a further €80 for medication out of tips she had saved from clients.
Viewing the courtroom through the monitor in the magistrate’s chambers
the witness also identified Suhov Pocora as “Baby - the woman who also drove the girls outside the apartment where they rendered their services".
She identified Vassallo as “Tyson - who accompanied the girls on their outdoor trips".
The woman recounted another episode about Farrugia
believed to be one of the masterminds behind the racket
Referring to Farrugia as a “client” the witness identified the grey-suited man in court and recalled how one evening
were accompanied to Farrugia’s apartment at around 7pm.
their host had sex with the sisters’ colleague
She was paid for the service but the witness said she did not personally see any money
They were driven back to their apartment around midnight.
On Wednesday the witness also recounted how her mother back in her homeland had received a visit from a stranger after the police cracked down on the racket and arrested the female sex workers - including the witness - in Malta
The stranger was a Colombian woman who was the alleged victims’ contact when they decided to travel to Malta to work as prostitutes.
The mother later messaged her daughter explaining that they had been warned “not to say anything” and that “they would be paid” for their silence.
When taken into police custody some two and a half months after her arrival
the witness said that at first she was “very scared and did not say anything”. When shown pictures of the suspects
But then she realised that since the police had seized the prostitutes’ phones and all the data they contained
investigators “had a lot of evidence against them”
the woman said that at first she was “pressured to do this and that"
She was labelled as “stupid” and a “bitch” and told that “she was here to work as a prostitute"
“I knew what I was coming for but I didn’t know that I would not be allowed out
nor that I would not get the money.”
Under lengthy and at times animated cross-examination
prompting numerous interventions by presiding magistrate Donatella Frendo Dimech
the witness said she only got tips from clients.
She reckoned that she was owed some €9,000 by her bosses
Her credibility was put to the test when defence lawyers flagged an Instagram reel the witness posted on May 1
That video showed her and other co-workers “all happy”
brandishing shopping bags at Tigne Mall.
pointed out defence lawyers Franco Debono and Mario Mifsud.
“We have a witness who is being very economical with the truth,” said Debono
asking the magistrate to warn the witness that she was under oath and could face “consequences”
That video clip triggered a long and heated verbal exchange between the defence and the prosecution
with inspector John Spiteri insisting there was clear and detailed evidence of every single instance that the witness exited the flat and in whose company she had done so.
All that evidence was to be produced in the proceedings.
the witness said she “had forgotten” about that first visit to Tigne.
All girls from both flats were taken on that outing around sunset
“They called for us again late that evening,” she said
She had bought a “not too expensive handbag,” shared a €60 bottle of wine with two other girls and got some shisha at a bar “for free”
“I was happy because it was my first outing," adding she had been in Malta for one month.
another alleged victim recalled how a flatmate had alerted the women to police presence outside their door.
Police are here,” one of the victims had called after checking the CCTV monitor.
they heard a loud “boom” and the door to their flat was forced open.
“I felt very bad… I was very nervous
I began to throw up,” recalled the witness.
she was informed she was being considered a human trafficking victim.
AG lawyers Ramon Bonett Sladden and Charmaine Abdilla prosecuted together with inspectors John Spiteri
Michaela Giglio and Mario Mifsudn assisted various defendants
Lawyers Lara Dimitrijevic and Stephanie Caruana appeared parte civile
The compilation of evidence against 9 persons charged with trafficking women for prostitution has continued
The defendants in this case are Luke Farrugia
37-year-old Nicolae Efimov and 32-year-old Alexandra Pocora of Romania
They are all pleading not guilty to the charges brought against them
Magistrate Donatella Frendo Dimech heard the testimony of a representative from a travel agency who identified Luke Farrugia and Gordon Cassar as the persons who used to buy travel tickets for their friends
It was stated that Cassar only went to buy tickets once to watch a concert in Madrid
The prices of each ticket varied between €1,000 and €1,700
including trips from Bogota to Madrid and then Malta
The same ticket also covered the return journey on the same routes
The witness explained that in certain instances she used to receive messages to prepare travel tickets
and then Luke Farrugia used to pay the company
She said that the messages had a deletion function
but confirmed the mobile number she received the messages from
A shop owner who sells sex toys and objects testified
He identified Gordon Cassar and Clint D’ Amato because they used to buy lubricants
He added that at times Alexandra Pocora had also made purchases from his shop
Receipts include payments ranging between €50 and €120
The testimony by one of the neighbour also stood out
In the past year she claimed to have seen many different men going up and down from a particular apartment in the block
She added that she stopped seeing these people around April
Lawyer Roberto Montalto said that the police investigation in connection with this case started in June
the witness said that it is in doubt whether it was April or June
another neighbour said that this year he saw men going to and exiting from the upper apartment of the block
He identified Luke Farrugia as the person who a year earlier was carrying out maintenance in the apartment
Magistrate Donatella Frendo Dimech evicted members of the press from the courtroom because to hear the testimony of the men who obtained sexual services from the Colombian women
This means that their testimony will be heard behind closed doors
The Prosecution is being led by Inspectors John Spiteri
Joseph Xerri and Dorianne Tabone together with lawyers Ramon Bonett Sladden and Charmaine Abdilla on behalf of the Attorney General
COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER
Fabricio Alvarado – a presidential candidate who just weeks before was at only three percent in some polls – capped off his upward surge by winning the first round of voting in Costa Rica’s national elections
In no community did he receive a higher percentage of votes than in Pocora
The Tico Times is pleased to translate David Bolaños’ in-depth feature, originally published by Radioemisoras UCR and the weekly Semanario Universidad examining the factors that led to Alvarado’s massive support in Pocora
Read Part I here.
In addition to its support for Fabricio Alvarado’s National Restoration Party (PRN)
Limón showed the second-lowest voter turnout in the country on Feb
Only in Guanacaste did fewer people head to the polls
the campaign ranged from political disillusionment and hope for change
Those three settlements are home to more than 27,000 people
according to the National Statistics and Census Institute (INEC)
These are districts surrounded by pineapple or banana plantations
where the roar of trucks passing by on the freeway never ceases
This compares to a multidimensional poverty rate of just 18.8 percent on a national scale, according to the 2017 National Homes Survey (ENAHO)
The UCR study indicates that the most extended scarcities in area homes are lack of human capital and of Internet access
In this context of disillusionment and the desire for change
the missing piece was a candidate to channel those feelings
when the Inter-American Human Rights Court issued its ruling on gender identity and non-discrimination for same-sex couples in its member countries
the evangelical Restoration Party received only 42 votes of the 2,600 that were cast in Pocora
Residents admit that Fabricio Alvarado was rarely mentioned when the 2017-2018 campaign began
Following the ruling, the candidate put himself on the political map with speeches about values
with proposals such as “eliminating gender ideology,” overturning the executive decree that regulates in vitro fertilization (IVF) in the country
and removing Costa Rica from the Inter-American Convention of Human Rights
Unlike preacher Pedro Cubero (see Part I)
the majority of pastors we interviewed in Pocora
Matina and Carrandí denied promoting Alvarado in their congregations
and all of them added that the candidate didn’t visit their communities
the pastor and elementary teacher Ana Yaney Mora said that she did urge her hundreds of congregants in Pocora to “assess the principles and values” of the candidates to decide whom to support
The clerics indicated there was a “click” that their congregants made on their own
guided by the principles that Alvarado promises to uphold
The candidate’s emphasis on traditional values helped him stand out from the pack
deputy director of the University of Costa Rica’s Center for Research and Political Studies (UCR-CIEP)
Post-electoral research from CIEP indicated that most people who supported the PRN in February said their priority was “defending traditional values.”
being against abortion or same-sex marriage are the touchstones that Alvarado’s supporters mention most when explaining what they mean by principles and family values
“The Christian principle,” responded María del Carmen Vallejo
That with God made man and women,” responded Vallejo
“We support him because he has the mind of Christ,” said the Pastor Thomas
This article was originally published in Spanish at Radioemisoras UCR and Semanario Universidad on March 6 by journalist David Bolaños
and was translated by The Tico Times with the permission of those media partners
One of the alleged victims in a human trafficking ring testified in court on Wednesday
revealing that her mother in Colombia was confronted by individuals who warned her to instruct her daughter not to cooperate with investigators
her mother relayed messages advising her to stay silent
with assurances that they would be paid if they kept quiet
It was disclosed in court that the victim’s mother had been the main contact for the alleged victims when they decided to travel to Malta to work as prostitutes
the mother sent a message to her daughter warning
“Do not say anything,” and promised
“You will be paid” for their silence
who was taken into police custody about two and a half months after arriving in Malta
initially said she was “very scared and did not say anything” when shown photographs of the suspects
She testified that she soon realised the police had already seized the mobile phones of the other women involved
obtaining significant evidence against the suspects
the woman said she had initially faced “pressure to do one thing or another,” and that she was often subjected to derogatory labels
but I didn’t know that I would be confined
or that I wouldn’t receive the money,” she stated
The woman was one of several victims who testified remotely via video link against eight men and one woman charged with human trafficking
and luring South American women to Malta for prostitution
where they were allegedly held against their will
from Birkirkara; Clint Lawrence D’Amato
Appearing before Magistrate Donatella Frendo Dimech
who she referred to as “Andrés,” as the individual who organised appointments with clients and often drove the women to work or shopping trips
She recounted how D’Amato responded promptly when her sister
complained of “severe pain in her private parts,” immediately taking her for medical treatment
The young Colombian woman described the pain as “indescribable” during her testimony
noting that D’Amato accompanied her to a private hospital where she received intravenous treatment and medication
whom she knew as “Baby,” as another individual involved in transporting the women from the apartment to various locations
known as “Tyson,” who accompanied the women on trips abroad
The witness stated that she was owed approximately €9,000 by her employers
amounting to a 45% deduction from her earnings
Her credibility came under scrutiny when defence lawyers presented a video she posted on Instagram on 1 May
The video showed her appearing “happy,” carrying shopping bags at Tigné Mall
Despite initially testifying that she had only visited Tigné once
defence lawyers Franco Debono and Mario Mifsud pointed out the discrepancy
suggesting that the witness was not being entirely truthful
Debono urged the magistrate to remind the witness that she was under oath
warning of potential “consequences” for misleading the court
the witness admitted she had “forgotten” the first visit to Tigné
explaining that all the women from the two apartments had been taken on the outing
“I was happy because it was my first outing,” she added
noting that she had been in Malta for a month
The prosecution was led by lawyers Ramon Bonett Sladden and Charmaine Abdilla from the Office of the Attorney General
The defendants were represented by lawyers Franco Debono
Lawyers Lara Dimitrijevic and Stephanie Caruana appeared as parte civile
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Nine persons have pleaded not guilty as they were arraigned in court and charged with human trafficking
Inspector John Spiteri from the Vice Squad stated in Court that initially
the Police triggered an investigation in connection with a brothel
but then it turned out that 4 women from Columbia had been trafficked
After two months of intensive investigations
the police managed to identify who was organising this activity
with all 9 defendants allegedly involved in some way
It is understood that a few weeks later the police discovered a second brothel in another locality
Appearing before Magistrate Claire Stafrace Zammit
the Prosecution declared that it is in possession of evidence of 4 of the victims among 8
who identified the 9 accused and stated that are the masterminds behind this activity which started generating a large amount of money
TVMnews is informed that the suspects were making a profit of around €50 every 15 minutes from each victim
11 persons were arrested in connection with this investigation
it resulted that there was only enough evidence for the arraignment of 9
It was stated in Court that the Police have received information that another victim has arrived three hours ago
with one of the accused who was meant to pick her up her from Malta International Airport.The eight men and the Romanian woman
The prosecution requested the issuing of a seizure and freezing order of the accused’s assets and property
It also requested a protection order for the victims
The prosecution rebutted that it does not have the peace of mind that if they are granted bail
the organisation and the criminal business will not continue
It added that there is a fear of tampering with evidence because more victims have yet to testify
The prosecution said it has sufficient proof that some of the victims’ families in Columbia are scared of the accused since their children have been in Malta
It is understood that they have somehow been contacted or threatened
The Prosecution added that civilian witnesses include persons from a travel agency and a photographer who was commissioned to take photographs of the victims
which were intended to be uploaded on escort websites
The Court denied bail for the 9 defendants
Joseph Xerri and Dorianne Tabone prosecuted together with Lawyers Ramon Bonett Sladden
Charmaine Abdilla on behalf of an Attorney General
Etienne Borg Ferranti and Kathleen Calleja Grima appeared for the accused
the police said 11 people were arrested in connection with an alleged organised crime ring of human trafficking
They were arrested early yesterday morning in various localities in Malta
the Police explained that after a number of weeks of investigations and information gathering
which was led by the Vulnerable Victims Squad and the Police Force’s Financial Crimes Unit
With the assistance of other sections of the Police force
A total of eight Maltese men and a Maltese woman
The Police explained that from searches carried out at the mentioned places
a considerable amount of cash was elevated
An inquiry is being conducted by Magistrate Philip Galea Farrugia
All persons are being detained at the Police lock-up in Floriana
Angelo Gafa confirmed the arrests during a press conference held in connection with the murder that took place in Swatar
Commissioner Gafa thanked the police from different sections who were involved in these arrests
A court heard on Wednesday how a gang member allegedly involved in human trafficking racked in €75,000 in two years
Police Inspector John Spiteri gave details during proceedings against Luke Farrugia
They stand accused of involvement in a human trafficking racket which lured Colombian women to Malta with an offer of work but then forced them into prostitution in several brothels in the Msida and Gzira area
They saw over 2,000 clients in three months in just one of the brothels.
In his testimony Spiteri confirmed that although Vassallo was not involved in the process of bringing the foreign nationals to Malta
WhatsApp messages indicated that he was aware of their arrival from Colombia
referring to them as “new stock.”
the inspector confirmed that the defendant had contacted one of the victims only once
There was evidence showing that Corito knew that he was instructing one of the victims to render services outside the apartment
He was allegedly paid €400 for that job
Cassar allegedly received some €75,000 in his Revolut account in less than two years
Deposits of €55 were made at intervals throughout each night
thus possibly indicating that those were payments for 30-minute services rendered by the prostitutes
After that testimony and submissions by the defence the court
presided over by Magistrate Donatella Frendo Dimech
decreed that there was sufficient prima facie evidence for all nine defendants to stand trial on indictment
the court delivered a decree whereby it upheld the bail request in respect of two of the defendants
Pocora was granted bail against a deposit of €5,000
a personal guarantee of €15,000 and signing of the bail book three times weekly
Corito was granted bail against a deposit of €8,000
a personal guarantee of €12,000 and daily signing of the bail book
AG lawyers Ramon Bonett Sladden and Charmaine Abdilla are prosecuting together with inspectors John Spiteri
Michaela Giglio and Nicholas Mifsud assisted various defendants
Lawyers Lara Dimitrijevic and Stephanie Caruana are appearing for the victims
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The compilation of evidence resumed this morning against seven Maltese men and a man and woman from Romania accused with trafficking of women for prostitution
09:27am Elaine Diacono testified that she had been arrested after depositing a bank account with Revolut bank and gave access to a certain April Farrugia
He recounted that her friend had lost her mobile and
09:33am – Inspector John Spiteri testified that on 11 June
Inspector Karl Roberts informed him on an inspection at an Imsida residence
where police officers found three foreign young females
The Inspector said that officers observed that the residence was used as a brothel
This was also confirmed by the women when Police heard their version at the Police depot
Two women said that they arrived in Malta in April and the other two had only been here for some days before the Police raided the residence
They all recounted that in Columbia they met a woman who offered them to travel to Malta and work as Escorts
Work will consist of accompanying men during events or meals
and that it was the choice of the young women whether to offer sexual services to these men
The Inspector added that ulterior investigations by the Police showed that the women had a booking at a St Julian’s hotel
they were given a number of a person that they were to save on their mobile under the name of ‘Fantażma’
Inspector Spiteri further testified that the police arrested Kane Vassallo and
including one which had the same number given to the victims in Columbia
The same number was given as a contact to police by Luke Farrugia following other cases he had with police
He said that the same number stopped being used after the police entered the brothel
A group chat that the police found in Vassallo’s mobile led officers to the second brothel
used by some of the accused present in Court
The Police Inspector told Magistrate Donatella Frendo Dimech that a neighbour who lives in the same apartments block
passed on footage of security cameras covering a period of four months
Clint D’amato and Dylan McKay appearing in the footage carrying furniture in the apartment
He said that the accused worked with a roster and with different roles
Chats found in mobiles of the prostitution victims also showed that two young women sent messages to a certain Thiago to inform him about the amount of clients and money earned during that night
the Police found that the name was another fictitious one used by Luke Farrugia
Other chats showed that Farrugia requested indecent photos of two sets of sisters that were in the Imsida brothel to upload them on a website used for prostitution
Farrugia sent back a “GIF” of a person exposing bank notes
10:32am With regards to Luca Corrito and Denzil Farrugia
the police established that the two men used to take the victims to clients and to collect money
Farrugia’s money was deposited in the bank account of Elaine Diacono
The Inspector also said that the women served some 200 clients a week at the second brothel
10:34am The Inspector also testified that McKay was the mastermind of the photoshoot which occurred at Hugo’s Hotel
This was confirmed by photographer Beppe Vella
who said that McKay had engaged him to take a set of photos of the women which were intended to be uploaded on the prostitution site
10:49am – The Police also established that Clint D’amato used a chat with one of the victims with messages in the form of instructions on sexual services
Inspector Spiteri said that one of the victims consulted with D’amato
on a client who wished unprotected oral sex
It is understood that the women refused to give this service
but D’amato told her that her work was to keep clients happy
Police investigations also found that D’amato use to send Revolut QR Code to the women
which was shown to the client so that the latter will send the payment for the sexual services
11:05am Referring to the Romanian accused – 37-year old Nicolae Efimov and 32-year old Alexandra Pocora – the Police established that their work was to give instructions to the victims on the inside and outside parts of the brothel
They used to observe the security cameras which filmed the activity on the road and guide the women when they should open the outside door
The Inspector added that the Romanian woman’s involvement decreased for some time as she was about to give birth
which were used as publicity for prostitution
11:12am Magistrate Donatella Frendo Dimech warns one of the accused that he will be dismissed from the court’s hall if he again tries to intimidate Aexandra Pocora
Inspector Spiteri said that the victims told police that they knew of the flight price when they arrived in Malta and that the amount had to be paid back from the money earned with services offered to men
The Inspector also declared that the police found no direct involvement of Gordon Cassar
but only established that one of his residences is rented on his name from a friend who shall testify in the proceedings
Agents of the Judiciary Investigative Police (OIJ) with the assistance of the public police force carried out 13 searches the morning of this Wednesday
Pocora and at the Carlos Luis Fallas Prison in Limon
Heredia with the purpose of arresting memebers of a drug trafficking organization
The operations culminated with the arrest of 11 people among them 5 penitentiary police officers who are apparently involved with the criminal group
¨This is a massive and simultaneous operation by OIJ directed against a criminal organization that is involved in the trafficking of drugs of different kind“
The investigation began back in August 2017
¨We initially coordinated with the Ministry of Justice in virtue of the alert received by OIJ in regards to the execution of suspicious activities within the prison¨
who added that the penitentiary police officers arrested apparently were bringing in illicit substances to prison as well as cell phones and selling them for high prices
The police officers detained are of last names Brenes Vega
this last one had resigned his job recently
The rest of the people arrested were three women and three men
some of them have family links with the police officers detained
A man who is already in prison is also involved in these group
he served as the link with the rest of the prisoners
and was receiving as international transfers large amounts in dollars in a bank account to his name
The man has no known businesses or legit incomes known and therefore agents suspect there could be a foreign investor
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