A businessman has pleaded not guilty to falsifying a court decree of annulment in order to enter into a second marriage.

He was arraigned this morning before magistrate Aaron Bugeja, with inspector Jeffery Scicluna prosecuting.

He is formally charged with falsifying a court decree, bigamy and judicial perjury. Scicluna told the court how in August 2002, the accused managed to enter into a second marriage through a court decree which dissolved the first. He alleged however that the court decree was in fact forged.

Authorities noticed the anomaly in 2016 when the accused tried to renew his passport.

Bigamy is a criminal offence and carried with it a penalty of up to four years imprisonment. It also applies to civil unions and cohabitating couples.

He was not remanded in custody, and was aided by lawyer Arthur Azzopardi.

The case continues in January.