A man who claimed to be a property investor was yesterday charged with defrauding three of his neighbours of over €1 million when he persuaded them to believe he was investing their money in US real estate.

Joseph Francis Scerri, 50, of Birkirkara pleaded not guilty to defrauding Paul and Joseph Schembri and their sister, Emanuela.

Mr Scerri was also charged with misappropriation and forgery.

Magistrate Carol Peralta told Mr Scerri that what he was charged with doing was “not right”.

“You’re bringing down people who have worked so hard to earn their money to their knees,” the magistrate said, adding that such crimes were “very serious”.

Mr Scerri is being held at Corradino Correctional Facility over similar cases.

In the most recent case, Mr Scerri, a former clerical hardware technician at HSBC Bank, pleaded not guilty to defrauding Maria Concetta Cefai, Mario Gauci and HSBC Bank Malta.

Ms Cefai had explained how she lost her job and pension because she cashed cheques for him having recognised him as a bank employee and being under the impression he was a manager.

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