A soldier was charged yesterday with lying under oath while he was testifying before the Chief Justice, when he was asked to justify his absence from a courtroom when the judgement on his appeal was due to be handed down.

Anthony Joseph Portelli, 34, from St Paul’s Bay, was due to appear before Chief Justice Vincent De Gaetano for a judgement of an appeal on drug trafficking charges.

The soldier gave his version of events as to why he had not been present in court. Mr Justice Vincent De Gaetano accepted Mr Portelli’s explanation and handed down his judgement, acquitting him of drug trafficking, aggravated by the fact that he was a soldier.

The Chief Justice subsequently ordered the police to investigate the justification given by Mr Portelli and, as a result of these investigations, Police Inspector Pierre Grech filed fresh charges against him.

Before magistrate Doreen Clarke, Mr Portelli was charged with lying under oath before the Court of Criminal Appeal and relapsing. He pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against him.

Dr Roberto Montalto and Dr Martin Fenech appeared for the accused.