Fined for unauthorised use of telephone

Reginald Cini was yesterday found guilty by the Magistrates Court of charges of making unauthorised use of telephone apparatus and of being a relapser.

The accused was charged by Inspector Pierre Micallef Grimaud with having, in the night between April 5-6, 2002, voluntarily caused damage to a house and to a car belonging to his father-in-law, Alfred Chircop, at Valletta. He was also charged with making abusive use of a telephone and with driving a car in a dangerous and reckless manner. Cini was further charged with being a relapser.

When delivering judgment Magistrate Antonio Mizzi noted that Chircop was the accused's father-in-law and that at the time the accused's wife was on bad terms with Cini and had gone to live with her parents. Chircop testified that he had recognised Cini as the individual who had thrown glass bottles at his house and car, however the accused had always denied causing any damage.

The court noted that there was a conflict between the different testimony given, and that Cini had therefore to be acquitted of charges of causing damage and of dangerous driving. However the other charge against Cini was proven to the court's satisfaction and he was fined Lm500.

The accused was also ordered not to annoy the Chircop family for a period of one year against a penalty of Lm100.