For over six years, a police superintendent accepted about Lm100 a month from three men who organised clandestine lotto and informed them about any police raids, a court heard yesterday.
During a lengthy and intense court hearing, Magistrate Giovanni Grixti heard various high ranking police officers testify in the compilation of evidence against a former colleague, Superintendent Patrick Spiteri, who resigned from the force last month after 27 years service.
Mr Spiteri, 49, of Fgura is pleading not guilty to accepting bribes to exercise his influence on decisions taken by the police over the past six years. He is also charged with extortion, abusing his authority, disclosing official secrets and committing crimes he was in duty bound to prevent.
The first witness to take the stand was Police Commissioner John Rizzo who said that, on May 20, he was informed that Mr Spiteri was involved in bribery connected with clandestine lotto.
Following investigations, Mr Spiteri was called in for questioning at Mr Rizzo's office. There, in the presence of Deputy Commissioner Joseph Cachia, Mr Spiteri admitted that he had received about Lm100 a month in total, as protection money, from different people who organised clandestine lotto. In exchange for the money he was to inform them if a police raid was to be carried out.
He said that this started about six years ago, when he was an inspector in the administrative law enforcement (ALE) unit of the police force.
Mr Rizzo added that, following a statement released by his former colleague, he delegated further investigations to Assistant Commissioner Michael Cassar.
On taking the witness stand, Mr Cassar explained how investigations led the police to a certain Gejtu Zerafa who told them he collected money from three men and handed it over to Mr Spiteri, taking it to his home or his office.
Mr Zerafa and Mr Spiteri were friends and, about six years ago, Mr Zerafa introduced Mr Spiteri to Nardu Cachia, a greengrocer who was also involved in clandestine lotto.
During a meeting, Mr Cachia agreed to pay Mr Spiteri Lm50 a month in exchange for his protection. This went on for about two years after which the fee was reduced to Lm25 a month since Mr Cachia was not coping.
Some three years ago, Mr Cachia introduced Mr Zerafa to a second man who organised illegal lotto. This was Carmelo Farrugia who told the police that Mr Zerafa then introduced him to Mr Spiteri. Mr Farrugia paid Mr Spiteri Lm50 a month in protection money through Mr Zerafa. The payments went on until a few mouths ago.
Two years ago, Mr Zerafa introduced Mr Spiteri to a third man - Emmanuel Spiteri - who paid Lm25 a month for protection.
The police also spoke to a fourth man - Alfred Galea - who said he had been arraigned for organising illegal lotto. Mr Zerafa had told him Mr Spiteri could help him avoid a jail term. After being advised not to turn up in court on two occasions, Mr Galea decided to file a guilty plea. Then, on Mr Zerafa's suggestion, he thanked Mr Spiteri for his help by leaving an envelope containing Lm25 at his office.
The witness said that, on June 25, he had been informed that Mr Spiteri was noticed carrying items out of his office at the police headquarters. On being questioned about this, Mr Spiteri said he had removed two bags containing alcohol and left them at the house of a constable, who was his driver.
The police searched the constable's house where they found two bags containing 24 bottles of whisky and a bottle of wine. They also found an antique shotgun.
Mr Spiteri later said he had taken the gun when he served at the St Julians police station because it was an antique and was not listed in police records.
After being cautioned, Mr Zerafa testified that he was a good friend of Mr Spiteri who he constantly referred to as "Mr Patrick".
He confirmed Mr Cassar's testimony and said he collected money, on behalf of Mr Spiteri, from three people - Emmanuel Spiteri, Nardu Cachia and Carmelo Farrugia.
He confirmed that the men paid Mr Spiteri for his protection. He said he was never paid for his involvement. All he got was Christmas hampers and occasional invitations to dinner by the men he helped.
Magistrate Grixti also heard Police Inspector Simon Galea testify that Mr Spiteri had entered the police force as a constable in February 1979. He became a sergeant in 1984 and an inspector in 1989. He was then promoted to superintendent in 2000.
At the end of the sitting the magistrate ruled there were sufficient reasons for Mr Spiteri's indictment.
Assistant Police Commissioner Michael Cassar and Inspector Angelo Gafà are prosecuting.
Lawyer Joseph Giglio is appearing for Mr Spiteri.