PC99 had been found 'not guilty' in criminal proceedings against him - inspector

The policeman who has spilled the beans on a number of alleged criminals and crimes, including hold-ups and attempted murders, had been found not guilty in criminal proceedings against him for violence, a court heard today.

This information came out during proceedings against Romeo Bone, who is charged with stalking PC99 Mario Portelli, the said policeman.

Taking the witness stand, prosecutor Inspector Michael Mallia said that on January 13 Inspector Joe Mercieca had told him he had confidential information that Mr Bone wanted to kill PC99, a very important witness in other cases.

On that same day he was informed that there had been two suspicious people in a Toyota in front of PC99’s home.

One was Romeo Bone, the other was Jeffrey Busuttil, who has not been charged.

Inspector Mercieca told the court that PC99 had followed the car when he recognised Mr Bone as the driver. He was on the phone with police telling them what he was and the Mobile Squad followed PC99’s directions and arrested Mr Bone.

PC99 had told the police that, on three occasions, he had witnessed Mr Bone - two times in front of his house on the same day but in two different instances within the hour and once in front of a farmhouse owned by his father.

When the police spoke to Mr Bone, he told them it was a coincidence that he had been there but he refused to say who was with him in the car.

He had said that he had been on his way to Mqabba to get a stereo from a friend.

When the police asked if they could speak to this friend, Mr Bone said he could be a witness in his case.

Defence lawyer Giannella Caruana Curran asked if it was true that there had been a criminal case against PC99.

Inspector Mifsud confirmed but said he had been found not guilty. He said he could not remember what the charges against PC99 were as he had not been involved.