A police inspector allegedly asked a couple to give him €4,000 for vacating a flat they wanted after successfully prosecuting the previous tenants.

Superintendent Alexandra Mamo was testifying in the case against Inspector Jason Francis Sultana, 34, from Ta’ Sannat, who has been suspended over the allegations.

The inspector is pleading not guilty to charge of bribery and committing a crime he was duty bound to prevent.

Before Magistrate Anthony Vella, the Superintendent said a woman named Karen Busuttil had spoken to a police sergeant on 22 September and made a number of allegations against the inspector, who was then stationed in Sliema.

The witness said she had spoken to Assistant Police Commissioner Martin Sammut, who asked her to investigate the case.

Later on, Ms Busuttil and her partner Kevin Attard went to speak to the police. The couple said Inspector Sultana had prosecuted Theresa Cutajar and her partner over prostitution. They were sent to prison and, as such, the flat they used to rent in Gzira became vacant.

Busuttil and Attard claimed that the Inspector had invited them to his office. He allegedly told them that he deserved something in return for vacating the flat and wrote out a figure on a piece of paper. Karen Busuttil said she paid the inspector €800 there and then. Over the following weeks they gave him more money for a total of €4,000.

The inspector later phoned the couple and told them he had found them an agent from whom they could let the flat. He demanded a 1% commission.

Superintendent Mamo said she had later spoken to the Police Commissioner, who transferred the investigation under Assistant Commissioner Charles Magri.

Another witness, Inspector Ramon Mercieca said the accused had cooperated fully and was denying the allegations.

Lawyer Edward Gatt said his clients, Kevin Attard and Karen Busuttil, had been given the impression that only internal disciplinary proceedings would be launched against the inspector but were later summoned to testify in court. They felt they had been misled, he said. Eventually they were also informed by the police that charges would be brought against them. For this reason they chose not to testify.

Inspector Sultana was placed under Bill of Indictment at the end of the sitting.

He is being represented by lawyer Robert Abela. The case continues on 14 January.