Policeman cleared of collecting debts in uniform

A police officer accused of collecting debt on behalf of a company while still in his uniform was acquitted after the prosecution failed to prove its case.

Emanuel Cilia, 34, of Żebbuġ was charged with making use of the uniform to collect money on behalf of a car dealer, failing in his duties as a public officer and committing a crime he was in duty bound to prevent on May 28 and 29, 2003.

Magistrate Audrey Demicoli said the police had received a report about the accused who, accompanied by three court ushers, went to get money from Maria Thatcher Spiteri, who allegedly owed money to a car dealer.

The court ushers testified that PC Cilia had arrived on the scene but had nothing to do with the situation in hand. He insisted he had nothing to do with debt collecting and was there by coincidence.

On the day in question, his girlfriend had given him a lift to work, however, the car had broken down in Cospicua. His girlfriend left the car and walked to Żabbar to get her father to pick him up but an aunt of his saw him and offered a lift. She told him she needed to drop by a woman's house to get money. The woman was Ms Thatcher Spiteri.

Once there, he heard a lot of shouting and swearing and got out of the car to see what was happening. His aunt assured him nothing was wrong and they left, he said, insisting his involvement in this matter stopped there.

Magistrate Demicoli said that judging by evidence produced, the prosecution did not prove its case and she, therefore, acquitted PC Cilia.