A defence lawyer yesterday accused the police of instituting criminal proceedings against the girlfriend of a criminal in a ploy to get at him.

Roberto Montalto made the accusation when requesting bail for Alexandra Dalmas, 43, of Rabat who pleaded not guilty to handling stolen property on August 6.

Ms Dalmas had never had a court case in her life but then, all of a sudden, in the space of one month she had two cases against her that were very shaky in terms of evidence, Dr Montalto argued. The police, he charged, were using her in a bid to get at her 47-year-old boyfriend, Joseph Cini, known also as Il-Pele. Mr Cini had escaped from Mater Dei Hospital in August after he was taken there from prison – where he had been remanded in custody – complaining of chest pains. He made his bid for freedom after he was left unattended when he asked to go the toilet. He was caught about 24 hours later, following a rooftop chase in Sta Venera.

He was remanded in custody after denying breaching bail.

In August, Ms Dalmas was charged together with Mr Cini of burglary from a house. In another case, she was accused of harbouring a criminal because the police believed that she knew his whereabouts when he was on the run although she denied any knowledge.

In response, Police Inspector Anthony Portelli said there was evidence against her such as items elevated from her house that were identified as having been stolen.

These included a laptop computer and a laundry basket, he added.

The officer said the accused had claimed the laptop belonged to her children adding she should not be granted bail because there were witnesses who still had to testify.

Dr Montalto said there could be no tampering of evidence because, as the officer knew, the handler of the stolen property and the victim did not know each other.

Magistrate Gabriella Vella remanded her in custody.