A Birkirkara man accused of lending money at exorbitant rates of interest was found not guilty in a court presided by Magistrate Jacqueline Padovani yesterday.

Patrick Pace, 44, was cleared of accusations made against him in the media, by someone who claimed he had incurred a sum of over €30,000 in a short while back in 2004.

Joseph Friggieri alleged he had borrowed €18,355 from him, and in a matter of weeks this had increased to €30,282. In the meantime Friggieri appeared on Xarabank, which was debating usury, and anonymously gave this information.

It so happened that Pace recognised his voice, and immediately went to the place where the programme was being filmed, in order to rebut the allegations made against him. However he was then arrested.

Evidence indicates that Friggieri had a betting habit, and according to Pace, he owed various people money, and his debt amounts to some €652,000. He would reportedly borrow money from different people, and then go to the police, claiming the lenders were practising usury.

During his testimony Pace said he was the only one who had gone to Xarabank to tell the truth, but had instead ended up arrested.

The prosecution claimed that Pace had said in his statement that he lent Friggieri some money, and the latter would then avoid him in order to avoid paying. There was also an agreement with Friggieri’s father, to make good for the amount of €30,282. Friggieri later informed the police that Pace had approached him, asking for payment three times and had threatened him, which resulted in Pace being interrogated again. Pace, while denying the accusations brought against him, said that when he had started loaning Friggieri money, the latter was a toys’ importer. He also said that Friggieri had once paid him using a cheque, which then bounced. He also said that Friggieri had told him he was going to sell his house, and would therefore be able to pay him. Moreover he had lied to him, telling him he was a bank manager.

Friggieri, in his statement to the police, admitted he had a gaming habit and had borrowed from the accused, adding that he did so because his financial situation had become dire. He said he was sorry for everything he had done.

Lawyer Chris Cardona appeared for the accused and the prosecution was led by Inspector Ian Joseph Abdilla.