German national Arne Wolfgang Schmidt, 45, today was remanded in custody by Magistrate Gabriella Vella after being charged with defrauding a Maltese man. He was also charged with creating a false company.

Mr Schmidt strongly denied the charges.

However, since he did not provide a fixed address or passport to the court, he was remanded in custody.

It is understood that a Maltese man – Paul Zammit – claimed that he handed the man some €24,000 in return for some goods or services. But the goods or services were never delivered to Mr Zammit. Mr Shmidt told the court that it is the Maltese man who is the fraudster not him.

Police Inspector Matthew Vella prosecuted. Lawyer Arthur Azzopardi defended the accused.