A man was yesterday charged with accessing his former wife’s e-mail address and using data to frame and harass her.

The man, 51, who lives in Sliema and works as a document management officer, pleaded not guilty to a total of 12 charges.

They include accessing his ex-wife’s e-mail account by using her password without authorisation, accusing people of committing a crime when he knew they were innocent, creating traces of a crime when he knew it was not true and filing false police reports.

He was also accused of theft of documents, downloading and copying data without authorisation, harassing and threatening his estranged wife and threatening the police.

He was accused of theft of documents, and downloading and copying data without authorisation

Magistrate Audrey Demicoli ordered a ban on the publication of both the name of the accused and that of his former wife, in order to protect her identity.

She also upheld a request by both the prosecution and defence for a psychiatrist to examine the man’s mental health.

The man was granted bail against a €3,000 personal guarantee and was ordered to stay away from witnesses, including the woman, as well as sign the bail book once a week.

The court also issued a protection order in favour of the woman.

Police Inspector Anna Marie Xuereb prosecuted while lawyers Alessandro and Paul Lia were defence counsel.