Farmer defrauded by bogus planning official, court hears

Eugenio Gaffarena was yesterday charged with defrauding money from a farmer when he posed as a planning authority official threatening to demolish a building unless he was paid some money underhand.

The 51-year-old, who has had his share of scrapes with the law, allegedly posed as Joseph Farrugia - a planning officer with the Malta Environment Planning Authority bearing that name does exist. He went to Joseph Azzopardi's farm in January of last year and told him that a building on his land did not have a planning permission, Police Inspector Maurice Curmi told the court.

Mr Gaffarena, who denies the charges, allegedly told the farmer that if they could not come to some arrangement, he would have the building demolished. The farmer handed over €11,650, believing Mr Gaffarena's tales, the prosecution is alleging.

About three weeks later, Mr Gaffarena approached the farmer again asking him for a further €3,495, and the sum was in fact handed over, the officer said in court.

In March 2007, Mr Azzopardi went to Mepa's offices looking for Mr Farrugia and was faced with a different man.

Mr Gaffarena's criminal record dates back to 1974, when he was found guilty in a trial by jury of taking part in a hold-up on two elderly women in 1985 at their home in Paola. He was subsequently jailed for nine years in 1994, but the sentence was cut down to four-and-a-half years on appeal.

In a second trial by jury in 1998, Mr Gaffarena was charged, together with another man, with holding up Alphonse Caruana in 1987 but was acquitted of all charges. In 2001, he was fined €34.95 for insulting then Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami and the Social Policy Minister of the time and Leader of the House of Representatives, Lawrence Gonzi.

Lawyers Franco Debono and Charmaine Cherrett appeared for Mr Gaffarena.