A couple was this afternoon remanded in custody after pleading not guilty to defrauding some 40 people under the pretext that they were collecting funds for Dar Tal-Providenza.

Joseph Meilaq, 32, from St Paul's Bay and mother-of-three Graziella Apap, 30, from Siggiewi, pleaded not guilty to soliciting donations for the charitable institution by telling the victims, most of them elderly people, that they had won a €5,000 voucher but they needed to make a donation of  €200.

Police Inspector Jonathan Ferris said some victims gave €200 while others gave more, with one victim paying more than €500.

He explained that the accused used to live together and Ms Apap put pressure on Mr Meilaq to collect more funds and give her at least €100 a day from the proceeds.

With the €5,000 to €6,000 collected they purchased several items including televisions and home items.

Lawyer Giannella de Marco, on behalf of Mr Meilaq, did not request bail but asked the court to order that her client be kept at Mount Carmel Hospital to be treated for his psychiatric problems, including depression.

Magistrate Miriam Hayman upheld this but turned down lawyer Gianluca Caruana Curran's request for bail on behalf of Ms Apap who was remanded in custody.

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