A Colombian man, charged with dismembering a deceased body, placing the body parts in a suitcase, and discarding it at sea, pleaded not guilty to the charges on Saturday.

The accused, 43-year-old Andres Leonardo Gamboa Duran from Cucuta, Colombia, appeared before Magistrate Marse Ann Farrugia in court.

Earlier in the day, the police held a press conference revealing that Duran would not face murder charges for now, as evidence suggests the victim was already dead when the body was dismembered. However, investigations are ongoing.

Duran has been charged with aggravated drug possession and trafficking, profiting from illicit proceeds, money laundering, promoting a criminal organization, tampering with evidence, and attempting to conceal a body.

At the press conference, Police Superintendent and lead investigator Keith Arnaud provided an update on the case. “We believe the victim was already deceased when his hands and feet were severed, and there were no external signs of violence,” he stated.

Arnaud also mentioned that police tracked down Duran, identifying the shop where he bought the axe used in the crime and the suitcase for disposing of the body. Additionally, Duran was found with a Portuguese man who will face separate drug-related charges.

During the court case, Police Inspector Wayne Camilleri testified that two minors initially spotted the suitcase while on a paddle boat and brought it to shore. They notified two adults, who opened it and discovered the dismembered body.

The victim was completely naked except for an adult diaper, with his hands and feet severed and placed in plastic bags. An autopsy revealed that he had swallowed 101 cocaine capsules, suggesting he may have been a drug mule.

#MaltaDaily