Businessmen testify in fraud case

Three businessmen yesterday told a court that cheques issued by a St Paul's Bay man had not been honoured by the bank or replaced with cash.

Paul Bezzina, of SSC Garage, Alex Busuttil, of Sweepstake Limited, and Joseph Sultana, of Sultana Brothers, followed each other to the witness stand and told Magistrate Antonio Mizzi that the cheques given to them by Anthony Bezzina last May had not been honoured by the bank.

They testified in the compilation of evidence against Bezzina, 50, who is pleading not guilty to defrauding Paul Bezzina of more than Lm1,000 and defrauding Busuttil and Sultana of less than Lm1,000 between May 12 and 25.

Paul Bezzina said Anthony Bezzina bought a car from his garage and issued a cheque for Lm2,400. But the cheque could not be cashed and he remained without his money.

Busuttil and Sultana also said the defendant had not paid them the money he owed them yet.

Sultana explained he knew Anthony Bezzina as an honest building contractor and believed that Bezzina was going to pay him back until he heard he had been charged with fraud.

At the end of yesterday's sitting Magistrate Mizzi reduced Bezzina's bail deposit from Lm500 to Lm300.