A police inspector yesterday told a court how a man accused of defrauding two men of Lm7,400 was paid for goods which he never passed on to the men.

Police Inspector Kevin Borg was testifying in the compilation of evidence against Ali Abdalla Elbackush, 42, from Valletta, who is facing criminal proceedings for allegedly defrauding two men of a total of Lm7,400.

Inspector Borg told Magistrate Miriam Hayman how he received two reports from Patrick Pace and Reno Mifsud. These claimed that the accused and another man, Freddie Spiteri, approached them and told them that he had a quantity of cigarettes with duty paid but which he was selling at a cheaper price.

The men continued that after Mr Pace gave him Lm6,000 for 38 large boxes containing cartons of cigarettes and after Mr Mifsud paid him Lm1,400, Mr Elbackush vanished and he could not be traced.

The police inspector said that when he was being interrogated, Mr Elbackush admitted that his intention was to get the money for cigarettes he never had and which he never intended to hand over.

Inspector Borg said the police investigations on Mr Spiteri are still ongoing and he is expected to be charged in court shortly.

The case continues.

Police Inspector Kevin Borg prosecuted while Dr Franco Debono and Dr Charmaine Cherrett appeared for the accused.