The aunt of the girl whose evidence led to her father being jailed for abusing her had offered her money and a mobile phone to recant her testimony, a court heard today.

This detail was revealed by Inspector Louise Calleja in a constitutional case filed by the father, Emanuel Camilleri, against her, the Police Commissioner and the Attorney General.

Mr Camilleri had been sentenced to a 2-year jail term, and was provisionally released from prison after his daughter Leanne, who is now 20, came forward and alleged that her mother pressured her to falsely testify that he had abused her.

Insp. Calleja, who had earlier testified that she still believed in the daughter’s original version of events, told the court that the girl had testified at the Magistrates’ Court five times, and that her version remained consistent throughout.

But she also revealed that in 2004, the girl’s aunt, Sandra Carabott, had offered the girl Lm5 to stop testifying, and another Lm5 to recant it. The inspector said that the girl’s brother Luke, who has since died, had confirmed that this was the case.