A self-proclaimed Nationalist Party activist who had defected before the last general election was yesterday charged with blackmailing Nationalist MP David Agius last February.

Jo Said appeared before Magistrate Doreen Clarke and was accused of blackmailing Mr Agius by allegedly threatening to publish information that he had cheated in an exam while at the University. Mr Said, 58, of Selmun, who said he was a management consultant, pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against him.

Police Inspector Angelo Gafá told the court that in February he was asked to investigate numerous e-mails that Mr Said had sent to Mr Agius entitled "The time is running out" and "The time is up".

Mr Agius testified that after a programme on Smash Television, during which Mr Said had alleged there were corrupt practices at the Malta Environment Planning Authority (Mepa), he had met Mr Said in a café to show him documents to disprove his allegations that there were corrupt practices in Mepa.

He said this was when Mr Said had started harassing him and threatening to reveal information about him.

Mr Agius said that Mr Said had followed him around, including at political meetings, where he would sit and stare at him and send him text messages.

Inspector Gafá said Mr Agius had told him that Mr Said threatened him that if he did not cross the floor in Parliament and reveal that there were corrupt practices within the Nationalist Party, he would publicise the fact that Mr Agius had cheated in an economics exam in 2001.

The e-mails entitled "The time is running out" referred to the time before Parliament was dissolved, in which Mr Said threatened that if Mr Agius did not cross the floor he would divulge the information in his possession.

The last e-mail sent, entitled "The time is up", referred to the dissolution of Parliament and Mr Agius's failure to act on Mr Said's instructions.

The case continues.

Lawyer Joe Mifsud appeared for Mr Said.

Lawyer Joseph Giglio appeared in parte civile for Mr Agius.