Two men were charged yesterday with lending money at higher interest rates than that permitted by law.

Emanuel Ellul, 50, from Luqa and Rosario Brincat, 53, from Qormi, were charged with usury on and before 1 July 2006 and with threatening the debtor and his family with violence if he did not pay the high interest rates they were demanding. They were also accused of relapsing.

Mr Ellul alone was further charged with committing a crime during the operative period of a probation order and during the operative period of a suspended sentence.

Before magistrate Lawrence Quintano, Mr Ellul and Mr Brincat pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against them. Police Inspector Joseph Cordina prosecuted and Dr Franco Debono appeared for the accused.