Man jailed for breaching wife’s protection order

A man was imprisoned for six months and fined €2,300 after the court found him guilty of breaching a protection order in favour of his wife and children.

Ahmad Yassine was accused of following his wife despite having been handed down a restraining order.

Inspector Priscilla Caruana Lee explained to Magistrate Joe Mifsud how, in November 2016, Yassine’s wife had left court after a sitting, to return to the shelter where she was living with her children.

As she walked past a café where Yassine was sitting, he had passed an intimidating comment and then followed her.

The terrified woman had ducked into a shop in Republic street in a bid to escape, but the man had continued to follow her movements, until she made contact with her lawyer and the police.

The accused had then failed to turn up for eight sittings and was arrested by the police.

The court observed that the case was one with conflicting versions of events. It noted that the prosecution had exhibited the restraining order issued by Judge Robert Mangion, which prohibited Yassine from approaching or following his wife and children and from being within 200 metres of her.

A witness had said that Yassine had been following the woman and the court, after evaluating the evidence said that this was sufficient for a conviction.

Not every conflict of evidence automatically led to acquittal, the magistrate explained.

“By doing what he did, the accused abused the merciful hand of the court and should not expect clemency this time. Following his wife, and this after she left the court building, is also a type of domestic violence and must never be permitted,” Mifsud said.

The magistrate condemned without reservation all forms of domestic violence.

Finding him guilty, the court condemned Yassine to six months’ imprisonment together with a fine of €2,300.

The court also imposed a ban on the publication of the names of the wife and children of the accused.