Fraudster remanded in custody

Jeffrey Cassar, 29 of Mosta, was remanded in custody after pleading not guilty to seven charges of fraud after he issued payments with stolen cheques.

Prosecuting inspector Josric Mifsud explained to the court that the accused had been wanted by the police over various cheque book payment frauds. On 17 September he was arrested and held at the Mosta Police Station, but managed to escape from custody. He was apprehended in Mellieha by officers on patrol and arraigned under arrest.

Cassar faced seven charges of fraud. On 5 September and the previous months he defrauded Paul Mamo, who runs a lotto booth in Mosta, of €5,024. In September he paid €230 to Magri's Cycle Store in Mosta, €200 to PhotoCity in Valletta and €200 to Gauci Poultry in Burmarrad. Cassar also defrauded a certain Malcolm Saliba of €6719. Cassar was also charged with handling stolen property, absconding from the Mosta Police Station, breaching bail conditions and relapsing.

Magistrate  Neville Camilleri remanded the accused in custody. Inspector Josric Mifsud prosecuted. The police urged commercial outlets to demand means of identification when accepting cheque payments.