A man who pleaded guilty to defrauding a woman of Lm9,000 yesterday retracted his plea and is now denying the crime after he failed to pay back the sum within the time given to him by the court.

On 7 October, Olaf Cini, 45, of Paola, pleaded guilty to defrauding Angela Hathaway of Lm9,000 and to relapsing in view of previous convictions.

Presiding magistrate Giovanni Grixti postponed the judgment to last Thursday to give the accused time to pay back the defrauded amount. At Thursday’s sitting, it transpired that Cini had failed to pay back the money.

At this same sitting, the man retracted his guilty plea and changed it to a not guilty one. In light of this, Magistrate Grixti ruled sufficient prima facie evidence had been presented for a bill of indictment to be drawn up against Cini.

Police inspector Angelo Gafa prosecuted while Dr Kris Busietta appeared for the defendant.