The woman charged with forcing her daughter to invent sex abuse allegations against her father yesterday broke down in court and denied breaching bail conditions by trying to contact her former husband.

Lisa May Camilleri took the stand to defend herself after Police Inspectors James Grech and Sandro Camilleri accused her of breaching bail conditions in the case where she stands accused of perjury.

The prosecution is alleging that she persuaded her daughter, Leanne, to lie about her father, Emanuel, who spent nearly 400 days in jail after he was found guilty of defiling his daughter.

He was serving a two-year term but was provisionally released by order of the Constitutional Court pending the outcome of the case against his former wife.

Mr Camilleri, 42, has always maintained his innocence. Leanne admitted perjury and was conditionally discharged for three years and also ordered to remain in contact with a psychologist.

In yesterday’s sitting, the police filed an application for Lisa May Camilleri’s bail to be revoked after they were informed by Mr Camilleri that she had tried to contact him through colleagues.

Martin Grech, a bus driver, said the woman had approached him and asked about Mr Camilleri. She remarked that Mr Camilleri was going to throw her into prison and he realised who she was. She also asked where Mr Camilleri was. Another bus driver, Saviour D’Amato, echoed his colleague’s testimony.

Testifying, she denied that she had ever seen or spoken to the men and said she was with her mother, Mary Carabott, at City Gate near the bus terminus. She denied ever speaking to anyone. She broke down in tears and asked why people would lie about her, exclaiming that she was not a liar.

Also testifying, her mother grabbed a large wooden crucifix as she was taking the oath and kissed it repeatedly. She also kissed a picture of her dead grandson and said she was swearing to tell the truth on him too. She said she was with her daughter the whole time and they never spoke to anyone.

In submissions on the application, Inspector Grech said the court had clearly explained to her that she should not in any way contact the witnesses and yet this is what she tried to do.

On the other hand, defence lawyer Martin Fenech said that their application was null and void.

“This is a farce,” he said before asking: “How could they say she was influencing a witness while having a Coke at the bus terminus.”

He pointed out that the witnesses said they were not asked to pass on a message.

Magistrate Ian Farrugia is expected to hand down a decision on Thursday.