Albert Vella, 58, from Msida was ordered to pay €927.55 in court expenses and a three-year conditional discharge after being found guilty of fraudulent gain.
In May 2013, Mr Vella was charged with defrauding his ex-wife of roughly €2,000 after he forged her signature to claim insurance money. His former wife, Catherine Vella had filed a criminal complaint against Mr Vella on the basis of finding out he had taken the money without permission only through separation proceedings.
He was also charged with making use of a falsified document and forging his wife’s signature however after all relevant considerations the courts liberated Mr Vella of these two charges. He had pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against him.
In his judgement, Magistrate Neville Camilleri held that after taking into consideration Mr Vella’s age and his relatively clean police conduct, a penalty should be handed down which illustrates the error of his ways and prevents him from repeating such an offense.
It was found that Mr Vella received around €4,000 from the insurance policy. In a statement to the police however, Mr Vella said that the policy was taken out when the couple were still together, and was meant for their daughter’s wedding.
He had claimed €2,000 went to his daughter, and was charged on the remaining €2,000 which was unaccounted for.
While testifying in court in 2013 Ms Vella said that their relationship had ended some 10 years prior. She had denied signing documents which authorise Mr Vella to withdraw the money from the insurance policy. Ms Vella said that their daughter informed her that the €2,000 she had received came from her husband.
Lawyer Stefano Filletti represented Mr Vella as the defence council while Inspector Yvonne Farrugia prosecuted.