An unemployed man who posed as a mechanic was yesterday charged with defrauding an elderly man out of more than €14,000 to repair a faulty Skoda gearbox.

Joseph Cioffi, 36, from Xgħajra, was arraigned before Magistrate Doreen Clarke and accused of defrauding the 76-year-old man of €14,300 to perform the repair job – which was never carried out.

Police Inspectors Raymond Aquilina and Christabelle Chetcuti strongly objected to a request for bail. They said Mr Cioffi had approached witnesses and threatened the victim and his family. His statement to police was almost devoid of information, as he did not offer any explanation or justification for what had happened.

Inspector Aquilina told the magistrate that Mr Cioffi had attempted to harm himself while in police custody and was admitted to Mount Carmel Hospital.

When he was released, the hospital failed to inform the police, who only found out when they received a report from the victim claiming he had been threatened. The inspector insisted that the accused was not trustworthy.

Defence lawyer Noel Bartolo said his client could be granted bail and ordered to stay away from the witnesses, but Magistrate Clarke would not take any risks and remanded him in custody.

Lawyer Benjamin Valencia appeared parte civile for the victim and his family.