60-year-old man who breached court conditions is granted bail

A 60-year-old man from Qormi was yesterday morning arraigned before Magistrate Neville Camilleri charged with breaching the conditions set upon him by bail in a previous hearing.

Joseph Calleja, an Identity Malta employee, had been charged in court on 7 July with fraud, embezzlement and misappropriation of funds. He was given bail with a set of conditions by a court presided by Magistrate Joe Mifsud.

As part of the conditions set, the man’s bank account was frozen. The prosecuting inspector, Priscilla Caruana Lee told the court that only days after being handed bail by the courts, the accused went to the bank to withdraw €41,000.

Defending the accused, lawyer Franco Debono said that the man did not know that he could not withdraw money. Together with lawyer Josette Sultana, they told the court that the accused made a mistake on something technical and that Calleja failed to understand what asset freezing means.

Sultana also argued that banks are usually notified about freezing orders on that same day or on the next. She said she could not understand why the prosecution failed to notify the banks in this regard.

The defence requested bail and the accused pleaded not guilty and contested the charges brought forward.

Taking note of the nature of the charges brought against Calleja, Magistrate Neville Camilleri ruled that the accused should be given bail. As part of the conditions, the man has to report to the police station every day and cannot stay outside later than 11pm.