A man who allegedly held his estranged wife against her will in an underground chamber beneath Fort Ricasoli, has been charged with breaching his bail conditions.

Roddie Swinton Williams was arraigned under arrest before magistrate Donatella Frendo Dimech on Wednesday, accused of repeatedly breaching his bail conditions.

He was on bail for allegedly abducting his ex-wife and holding her against her will, amongst other charges. His bail bond was initially set at €80,000 but was eventually reduced to €63,000.

Supt. Josric Mifsud told the court that the man was granted bail on 9 March 2018 by Judge Antonio Mizzi and left custody in October after paying his €3,000 deposit. After the last hearing, his lawyers asked for a change in bail conditions, asking that he sign at a different police station, but he was still required to sign once daily as per a decree of the magistrate’s court.

But Supt. Mifsud said that from 19 February onwards, Williams had stopped signing altogether.

Attempts were made to find where he was residing after he changed his address without informing the police. He was arrested at Qormi on Tuesday, having been found living in a garage which had been seized by the court due to separate investigations.

The court asked why he hadn’t been arrested earlier having failed to sign on a number of occasions and was signing at a different police station, but no answer was forthcoming.

Inspector Paula Ciantar told the court that a joint operation between the drugs squad and district police on the Qormi garage complex took place yesterday. Williams was found there and arrested, she said.

The case continues in April.

Lawyer Marion Camilleri appeared for Williams.