The constable who is a main witness for the prosecution in the case of former police inspector David Gatt and alleged members of his criminal gang yesterday denied he was an undercover officer.

PC Mario Portelli was testifying in the case of Romeo Bone who stands charged with stalking the constable on January 12.

Mr Bone was granted bail yesterday against a personal guarantee of €15,000 after spending more than a month in custody.

Magistrate Silvio Meli had previously heard that Mr Bone, allegedly accompanied by another man, Jeffrey Busuttil, had driven past PC Portelli’s house at a slow speed. PC Portelli reported he was standing outside smoking a cigarette and ducked when he spotted the two of them. He then followed them in his car until they were arrested.

Cross-examined by defence lawyer Giannella Caruana Curran, PC Portelli denied he was an undercover officer and said he had taken the initiative to get to know Dr Gatt and the gang, which included Mr Bone, in an attempt to garner more information about a crime that had taken place in Birkirkara.

He said Dr Gatt had nicknamed him Pino Marchese and called Mr Bone Scar Puzzetta. However, he did not know the meaning of these names.

The constable recalled he had been introduced to Mr Bone by Dr Gatt and, a few weeks later, in February 2009, he entertained Mr Bone and Dr Gatt to a meal at his farmhouse not far from his home in Qrendi. Afterwards, Mr Bone took him home and he presumed that was how he knew where he lived. On further questioning by Dr Caruana Curran, PC Portelli said he saw the car Mr Bone was in more than 200 feet away from his house in the dark and across a centre strip on which were small trees.

PC Portelli said he decided to follow the men even though he knew Mr Bone allegedly wanted to kill him. He was in contact with the police control room as he followed the men to Luqa where they were apprehended.

He admitted raising his voice at Mr Bone and putting his face close to Mr Bone when he was being handcuffed. Police mobile squad officers then asked him to move away.

Asked if he thought it was correct for him to be involved in Mr Bone’s arrest when he was directly involved in the case of Dr Gatt, PC Portelli said it was precisely his direct involvement that led him to follow the men and make the arrests.

The case continues.