[attach id=253699 size="medium"]Police Inspector Yvonne Farrugia told the court the defendant had forged his ex-wife’s signature.[/attach]

A man was yesterday charged with defrauding his former wife of some €2,000 after he allegedly forged her signature to claim insurance money.

The woman, Catherine Vella, filed a criminal complaint against her former husband Albert, claiming she found out through separation proceedings that he had taken the money without her permission.

Mr Vella, 55, from Msida, is pleading not guilty to defrauding her.

Taking the witness stand, Police Inspector Yvonne Farrugia said that the investigation found he had forged her signature to receive some €4,000 from the insurance policy.

In a statement to the police, Mr Vella said the policy was taken out when they were still together and it was meant for their children’s weddings.

In fact, he claimed. the money had been given to his daughter and his wife had signed the documents allowing him to withdraw the money.

Ms Vella said their relationship had ended some 10 years earlier and the case had been going on for eight or nine years

Testifying, Ms Vella said that their relationship had ended some 10 years earlier and the case had been going on for eight or nine years.

She denied signing the documents that authorised him to withdraw the money.

She said her daughter had told her that her husband had given her some money.

Under cross examination by lawyer Stefano Filletti, the woman said she was not sure if she had even seen the document that allegedly contained her forged signature before it was presented in court.

The case continues.