Warden issued flurry of tickets against woman after their relationship broke down, court told

A warden who broke up with a woman who owed him €27,000, started issuing tickets against her haphazardly when she did not return the money, a court heard today.

Oswald Lanzon, 42 of Birzebbuga stands accused of having fabricated a crime and issued tickets when no offences had been committed. He was also accused of harassing the woman and committing a crime he was duty bound to prevent.

Inspector Frank Sammut told the court that the warden had been dating the woman and he lent her €27,000.

They eventually broke up and he tried to get his money back. His calls, however, were ignored by the woman.

The warden then started issuing tickets against her for fictitious offences. Another two wardens were also involved in this, and investigations are ongoing.

The warden was caught out after he issued a ticket against the woman for an alleged offence in Marsascala, when she could prove that at the time she was actually in Gozo.

Magistrate Neville Camilleri granted the accused bail against a personal guarantee of €5,000 and a deposit of €500 and ordered him not to go anywhere near Cospicua, where the woman lives.