The Crown alleged two of the four raffles conducted by the foundation in 1998 were rigged.

Prosecutor Don Just said Mr Laguda had agreed with Mr Ponte, Italiano and Cherrie that Mr Ponte would be the winner of the second raffle, drawn in May.

Mr Just said Mr Ponte paid $74,000 for the BMW prize he won via cheques to companies associated with Italiano, who then passed the money to the foundation.

Mr Just alleged that Mr Laguda, Italiano, Cherrie and Costanzo conspired to make Costanzo's company, Leinad Investments, the winner of two Mercedes-Benz cars in the raffle drawn in August.

The first prize, a $295,000 Mercedes-Benz SL 500, was won by Leinad Investments. Mr Just said a police investigation revealed Costanzo had paid about $140,000 for the car.

An employee of Italiano's won the second prize, a Mercedes-Benz valued at $100,000. Italiano allegedly sold the car to an innocent buyer for $87,500.

Counsel for Mr Laguda, Brendan Wilkinson, argued that Mr Laguda did not know the raffles were to be rigged and that Cherrie was the prime mover.

Counsel for Mr Ponte, Peter Haag, said Mr Ponte, a cousin of Italiano, had nothing to do with running the foundation or the raffles.