Witnesses cautioned in forgery case

Four signatories of a two-page document granting power of attorney to a notary, who stands charged with tampering with documents, yesterday recognised their signature on one of the pages but could not recall details of the document and its signing.

Eileen Agius, her daughters Rita Busuttil and Doreen Vella and her son Paul Agius followed each other to the witness stand and explained that they signed a document granting Sandro Schembri Adami the power of attorney to transfer money in the bank.

The four witnesses, who testified after having been cautioned by the court, recognised their signatures on the first page of the two-page document but not on the second.

They testified before Magistrate Anthony Vella in the compilation of evidence against Dr Schembri Adami, 40, of Valletta who is pleading not guilty to forging the signature of his former employee Notary Sara Anne Agius onto three power of attorney documents on and before August 2004.

Eileen Agius explained that when her husband passed away she had appointed Dr Schembri Adami as a notary to transfer her husband's money at the bank onto her name.

When cross examined by Stefano Filletti, for the defendant, she said all she remembered was going to Dr Schembri Adami to get the money transferred, which in fact had happened.

She could not recall details such as how many times she had signed and where she had signed the power of attorney.

She later said she must have signed it at the notary's Valletta office and did not recall whether she had seen the document shown to her in court before. Ms Busuttil, Ms Vella and Mr Agius recognised their signatures on the document's first page but not on the second and could not recall whether the writing on the first page was already there when they signed it.

All three could not recognise the document they had signed and could not recall exactly how many times they had signed.

Under cross examination, Mr Agius said he had never met Notary Agius and recalled that there had been some form of problem with the bank transfer of the money but did not know the details.

Yvonne Fenech and her daughters Simone Farrugia and Alfreda Calleja also testified in yesterday's sitting. The three said they had signed a document granting Dr Schembri Adami power of attorney and recognised their signature on both sheets.

The case continues.