Police officer testifies in cash for housing case

A 60-year-old unemployed falsely claimed he worked at the Ministry for Resources and Infrastructure and defrauded a man of Lm1,000 when he promised he would secure housing for his son in exchange for cash, a court heard.

Magistrate Lawrence Quintano heard Police Inspector Joseph Cordina testify in the case against Gordon Pace, of Floriana, who is pleading not guilty to defrauding Carmel Bugeja of Lm1,000 and accepting Mr Bugeja's money in exchange for a favour on and before October 8, last year.

Mr Pace convinced Mr Bugeja that he was a ministry official and that he was in a position to grant Mr Bugeja's son access to social housing.

Mr Pace took Lm1,000 from Mr Bugeja in exchange for this favour.

Lawyer Cedric Mifsud appeared for Mr Pace.

Lawyers José Herrera and Veronique Dalli represented Mr Bugeja.