A Romanian man was yesterday charged with blackmailing a married woman by allegedly threatening her that if she ended their relationship he would expose compromising photographs of her.

Cristian Traian Dumitru, 37, residing in Rabat, pleaded not guilty to blackmail and being in possession of a counterfeit identity card.

During the arraignment yesterday, lawyers Daniela Mangion and Gabrielle Zammit asked Magistrate Francesco Depasquale for bail, adding that their client was not a career criminal and had been living in Malta for some seven years. Police Inspector Jeffrey Cilia did not object to bail being granted, provided the court ensured the accused did not leave the island.

The magistrate granted Mr Dumitru bail against a personal guarantee of €5,000 and ordered him to report at his local police station every day.

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