Accused of false report after blaming policeman

A Spanish woman who claimed that a police officer had pushed her, causing her to fall backwards and fracture her arm, was yesterday charged with filing a false report after footage reveals she had not been pushed.

Prosecuting officer Justin Camilleri told Magistrate Natasha Galea Sciberras that the woman is seen moving backwards while the officer was speaking to her and tripping over a low parking barrier.

“Contrary to what she said, the officer can be seen making a movement to try to grab the woman to prevent her from falling. But even when shown the footage, the woman kept insisting on sticking to her report accusing the officer of pushing her so we had no option but to charge her here,” he told the court.

Yinette Consuelo Guaquirian Pedrique, 49, who lives with her nephew in Swieqi, was charged with filing the false report at the police depot in Floriana on June 22. She was also charged with accusing someone of a crime she knew had not taken place and with causing a disturbance outside the passport office on June 15. She was further charged with disobeying police orders and preventing police officer Anthony Theuma from carrying out his duties.

She pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against her. Magistrate Natasha Galea Sciberras granted her bail against a €300 deposit and a €5,000 personal guarantee.

She also ordered her to sign the bail book three times a week.

Police inspectors Justin Camilleri and Geoffrey Azzopardi prosecuted while lawyers Andrew Sciberras and Lara Dimitrijevic appeared for the woman.