A 37-year-old police officer pleaded not guilty yesterday to charges of misappropriation and defrauding the government of between Lm200 and Lm500.

The man, whose name cannot be published by court order, was granted bail after he pleaded not guilty to fraud, forging documents and committing a crime he was duty bound to prevent.

The court, presided over by magistrate Audrey Demicoli, granted the police officer bail against a personal guarantee of Lm2,000.

Police inspectors Simon Galea and Kenneth Haber prosecuted and Dr Franco Debono appeared for the police officer.