A witness who changed her version and said she never saw developer Sandro Chetcuti beat up former GRTU chief Vince Farrugia, this morning told a court police never called her in to speak to her about a possible perjury case against Mr Farrugia.

Mr Chetcuti also said police never called him to speak to him over the matter.

Both were testifying before Magistrate Aaron Bugeja who is presiding over challenge proceedings initiated by Mr Chetcuti.

Mr Chetcuti had filed an application, known as a challenge, against the Police Commissioner, requesting the court to order the police to charge Mr Farrugia with suborning witnesses to give false evidence, perjury and fabrication of false evidence.

On September 18 last year, Mr Chetcuti was convicted of having slightly injured Mr Farrugia, the former GRTU director-general, when he assaulted him at the association’s offices in 2010.

He was condemned to a one month jail term suspended for one year. The court, presided by Magistrate Edwina Grima, also ordered the Commissioner of Police to investigate Mr Farrugia and other witnesses who may have testified falsely before the court. No one was arraigned.

This afternoon Sylvia Gauci, who at the time of the assault was a GRTU executive council member, told Magistrate Bugeja how she had initially testified that she saw Mr Chetcuti beat up Mr Farrugia.

But, during the compilation of evidence she retracted this version and told the truth, she said. She said she never saw Mr Chetcuti hit him.

When she looked into the office on the day of the incident she saw Mr Farrugia on the floor and Mr Chetcuti standing across the room after hearing shouting from the office.

She had testified that several people who were at the GRTU offices – including Paul Abela and two secretaries – had agreed on the version to tell police. She did not pinpoint who started off this version but said that Mr Farrugia said that happened to him as he was sitting on a chair waiting for the ambulance.

She denied being approached by Mr Chetcuti to change her version.

During submissions Mr Chetuti’s lawyer Edward Gatt said that throughout the compilation of evidence against Mr Chetcuti evidence exposed attempts by Mr Farrugia to break the law.

”Filth, filth, filth... from beginning to end,” he said as he insisted that police had enough evidence on which to charge him in court. He stressed that the message had to be transmitted that people could not just lie under oath and try to trick the justice system.

Police Inspector James Grech, prosecuting, said that he had studied the case for ”long months” and had arrested and spoken to various people including Vince Farrugia. His conclusion remained that there was not enough evidence to charge Mr Farrugia in court.

He said he took the case to the Attorney General and a meeting was held with the Attorney General, the Police Commissioner, Assistant Commissioner Pierre Calleja and other high-ranking officers. Mr Grech said he was not present so as not to influence their judgdment.

They too concluded there was not enough evidence to arraign Mr Farrugia.

He said that, just because the defence managed to create doubts about witnesses, it did not mean there was enough proof to charge them in court.

“It would be wrong of me to issue charges if I feel there is not enough evidence,” he said.

Magistrate Bugeja put off the case to give a ruling as to whether Mr Farrugia will be arraigned in court. He put off the case to March 25 but could give a decision earlier.