Following the passing of notary Ivan Barbara, who died last April after contracting the COVID-19 virus, police have launched a money-laundering probe into his operations. With clients claiming they had been defrauded by the notary and left high and dry following his passing, many of them are claiming that they have been left in a state of ‘anxious limbo’ as they try to recover their deposits. They are also claiming that he committed acts of fraud and misappropriation.
Barbara passed away after he was airlifted back to Malta from India, just days after he managed to secure the adoption of his child. His widow Rosanne has allegedly, according to Notarial Council, renounced her late husband’s inheritance and thus forfeiting any assets or responsibility for pending debt. With an unclear legal heir, sources told Times of Malta that the police probe is not only looking at any wrongdoing done by the late notary but also any potential wrongdoing by his wife and employee.
Police could not confirm or deny if the investigation is in fact underway, with questions sent to Ms Barbara remaining unanswered as of time of writing. Police are also allegedly investigating the role played by banks and the possible lack of due diligence on their part.
The Notary Council allegedly asked the attorney general to hand over any deeds and wills published by Barbara to the government’s chief notary to fast track the process of checking for potential breach of contract last month. Keith Francis German, the government’s chief notary, was appointed as notary delegate of all deeds relating to Barbara with effect as of August 16th.
The magistrate court has yet to issue a decree on a request by several of the notary’s clients for a magisterial inquiry into the notary’s actions and those of his wife. Three clients made the request, stating that they had handed Barbara cheques amounting to €30,650 in relation to promise of sale agreements they had signed.
Through lawyer David Bonello, clients are insisting that the money they deposited with notary Barbara should have been deposited in client bank accounts and eventually passed on to seller when the final contracts of sale were signed.
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Photo Source: Victims of Notary Ivan Barbara FB