A man was yesterday cleared of charges brought against him after the court heard that the man was not in a position to evaluate between right and wrong at the time of the commission of the alleged crime.

The man, whose name is being withheld because of his illness, was originally charged with stealing cash and other objects from the Naxxar parish offices in March 2003. He was also accused of relapsing.

In her judgement, magistrate Abigail Lofaro said the man committed the alleged crime when he was suffering from mental problems and was thus exempt from criminal responsibility. Moreover, magistrate Lofaro ordered that the man be kept at Mount Carmel Hospital for treatment.

The court heard that the man suffered from chronic manic depressive disorder and his condition was dangerous because of attempts to end his life. She also heard that the man was not in a position to control his actions.

She therefore cleared the man of all the charges brought against him.

Police inspector Geoffrey Azzopardi prosecuted while Dr Joe Giglio appeared for the accused.