A 47-year-old man from Birkirkara was this afternoon acquitted of trading in influence and relapsing.

The police had been informed that Victor Pace, the accused, and Mario Camilleri had got to know each other when they were inmates at Mount Carmel Hospital.

When Mr Pace was released in October 2009, Mr Camilleri remained at the Forensic Ward of Mount Carmel Hospital.

Mr Camilleri had alleged that Mr Pace had offered him to get him a permit to be able to visit the garden in exchange for 1,000. He did not say what the 1,000 were.

He alleged that Mr Pace visited him again at a later date and again requested payment. Mr Camilleri had claimed he had refused to pay and reported Mr Pace to the police.

The court noted that the evidence of the case had been based on the truth of Mr Camilleri's statement when Mr Camilleri had major credibility issues.

Moreover, it did not make sense for Mr Pace to say he could corrupt a hospital official so that Mr Camilleri could visit the garden. The story Mr Camilleri had made up, was not at all plausible.

The court noted that Mr Camilleri did not even confirm his own report to the court and said he that he did not know what he was saying when he filed the report as he had been receiving medicine which could have confused him.