Woman accused of falsifying food handling certificate
Certifying officer noticed his signature had been forged on document
An Argentinian woman living in St Julian’s was charged with using a falsified food-handling certificate after a certifying officer noticed his signature had been forged on the document.
Juliana Rodriguez Demarchi, 23, was accused of issuing a false certificate, making malicious use of a false certificate, making a false declaration to a public authority and other charges.
She pleaded not guilty.
Police inspector John Sammut told the court that the police received a report on August 1 from a certifying officer who flagged a certificate bearing his forged signature. The name of the accused was on the certificate.
The police checked for her details with Identità but none came up. However, she is in Malta legally.
When the police managed to obtain her mobile number, they called her and asked her to go to St Julian’s police station where she was arrested.
Lawyer Roberto Spiteri requested bail but Sammut objected, noting that Identità have no records of Demarchi. He also argued that as she is a foreigner and has no ties to Malta, there was a risk that she could abscond and that she “could contact the person who forged the certificate”.
The prosecution underlined that they wanted to know where the certificate came from.
Spiteri told the court she is still waiting for her single work permit and that her boyfriend has been living in Malta for over a year and that they have a fixed residential address.
The defence also argued that this case consists of documentary evidence and there were no civilian witnesses.
The court granted the woman bail against a €4,000 deposit and a €6,000. She was also ordered to sign the bail book.
Police inspectors Roderick Attard and John Sammut prosecuted. Lawyers Roberto Spiteri and Edward Camilleri appeared for the accused.