Cleared of filing false report

A Gozitan man was yesterday cleared of filing a false report against two police constables.

Paschalino Cefai, 25, was cleared of filing the false report against PC Jimmy Attard and Alfred Grech and of lying under oath during criminal proceedings last year.

Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera heard how Mr Cefai had been arraigned for damaging a vehicle. During the compilation of evidence against him he testified that, when he had been called into the Victoria police station for questioning, he left the station because the two constables told him he could leave.

Eventually, the police took action against Mr Cefai for lying under oath when he said that the constables had told him to leave.

After hearing the evidence brought forward, Magistrate Scerri Herrera cleared Mr Cefai of filing a false report as he had not filed any report; the allegations had been made during the criminal proceedings.

He was also cleared of lying under oath during the criminal proceedings as the law under which he had been charged did not include "compilation of evidence" in the definition for criminal proceedings.

Police Inspector Maurice Curmi prosecuted.

Lawyers Franco Debono and Chris Said appeared for Mr Cefai.