Charmaine Grima, a 30-year-old woman from Zurrieq, yesterday pleaded not guilty to charges of extortion when she appeared before Magistrate Anthony Ellul in court in Gozo.

Ms Grima was accused of defrauding, threatening and defaming her victim, who cannot be named following a court order. The offences allegedly happened throughout August in Gozo, the police reported. The accused was granted bail against a personal guarantee of €4,000. Police Inspector Frank Tabone led the prosecution.

The case will continue in mid-September