A woman yesterday told the court that the anonymous phone calls she received from former Labour Party president Manuel Cuschieri were an unfortunate incident and she forgave him because he was going through a “bad patch.”

Marika Micallef was testifying in a compilation of evidence against Manuel Cuschieri who is charged of illegal use of a mobile phone and harassment.

Ms Micallef told the court, presided over by magistrate Miriam Hayman, that she filed a report because she was receiving anonymous phone calls in the early hours of the morning. She added that when she answered the phone, the person on the other end would not say anything.

However, she explained, as soon as she realised who was behind the phone calls she spoke to Mr Cuschieri and forgave him, adding that it was an unfortunate incident.

Prosecuting inspector Chris Pullicino told the court that on 1 February, Ms Micallef filed a report at the Qawra police station because she was receiving anonymous telephone calls late at night.

She told the police that the number was withheld and that the phone calls were made in the early hours of the morning.

In his testimony, Mr Pullicino explained that the woman did not receive any information from the Qawra police station and she approached the inspector to follow it up.

He told the court that Ms Micallef sent a letter to Vodafone requesting a call profile of her mobile number and he instructed Ms Micallef to keep track of when she received the anonymous phone calls.

The call profile revealed a number of phone calls had been made from a go mobile number, and the network identified the caller as Manuel Cuschieri.

Mr Pullicino said he showed Ms Micallef three different numbers, including Mr Cuschieri’s, and Mrs Micallef recognised his number, adding that she had it saved on her mobile.

The inspector told the court that when he spoke to Mr Cuschieri, he said he was not aware he made those phone calls (ma kienx konxju li ghamel it-telefonati), and that he was asleep when the phone calls were made.

Mr Cuschieri also told the police that only he used his mobile phone and added that he knew Ms Micallef.

Mr Pullicino told the court that Ms Micallef did not want to take the case further and told him that it was an “unfortunate incident”.

Police inspector Chris Pullicino and Therese Sciberras prosecuted and Dr Anglu Farrugia and Dr Joseph Brincat appeared for Mr Cuschieri.

The case continues.