Alleged stalker’s bail confirmed

The Attorney General has lost a bid to get the Criminal Court to revoke bail given to convicted criminal Romeo Bone, who stands charged with stalking the main witness in the case against lawyer and former police inspector David Gatt.

Mr Bone stands charged with stalking PC 99 Mario Portelli on January 12, after the constable gave evidence against both Mr Bone and Dr Gatt, alleging they formed a criminal organisation which carried out large scale armed robberies.

Magistrate Silvio Meli had granted Mr Bone bail on February 18, against a personal guarantee of €15,000, after he spent more than a month in custody. The Attorney General appealed the decision. However, Mr Justice Lawrence Quintano yesterday turned down the appeal.

Magistrate 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, before following them in his car until they were arrested.

PC Portelli had denied that he was an undercover officer.

The case continues.

Lawyer Giannella Caruana Curran appeared for Mr Bone.