Bail for unemployed serial fraudster

Giovanni Micallef, 49 of St. Paul's Bay was granted bail this afternoon after pleading not guilty to defrauding six people various amounts of money.

Micallef, who is unemployed and has a long history of convictions for fraud, was charged by Inspector Joseph Busuttil of having defrauded six people when he allegedly took money from them with the promise of importing television sets and hi-fi equipment from Bulgaria.

Others claimed that Micallef took money from them on the premise that he would find them jobs on oil rigs overseas, when he acted on behalf of a ficticious recruitment agency.

While the prosecution opposed bail due to the history of the accused, defence counsel Peter Paul Zammit argued that the presumption of innocence was pivotal, and that Micallef was willing to repay his debts.

The lawyer added that his client had no money to deposit and asked the court to consider the fact that if his client had the money he would have paid his debts.

Magistrate Giovanni Grixti granted Micallef bail on condition that he acknowledges  a €3,000 personal guarantee, that he does not approach any of the witnesses in his case, and to sign at the Qawra Police Station twice a week.