A 51-year-old man was granted bail after pleading not guilty to fabricating false evidence and filing a false police report against his estranged wife and a host of other charges.

The Sliema resident – who cannot be named by court order to protect the identity of his wife – faced a total of 12 charges.

Among other things, he is also accused of illicitly accessing his wife’s emails, stealing and copying documents without authorisation, causing his wife fear that violence would be used against her or her relatives, harassing her and a number of other people, making false accusations against a number of persons, and the arbitrary exercise of a pretended right.

In line with a request by the prosecution, Magistrate Audrey Demicoli appointed psychiatrist Joe Cassar to carry out a psychiatric evaluation of the accused.

The prosecution did not object to a request for bail, and the accused was thus granted bail against a €3,000 personal guarantee.

However, the prosecution did ask for – and obtain – a protection order to prevent the accused from approaching his estranged wife.

 

Inspector Anna Marie Xuereb prosecuted, while lawyers Pawlu Lia and Alessandro Lia were defence counsel.