A magistrate has cleared a man who, 11 years ago, was charged with usury and at the same time ordered the police to investigate the alleged victim for lying under oath.

Magistrate Miriam Hayman cleared 62-year-old Alfred Mallia of charges related to usury after she heard how the claims made by the alleged victim, Joseph Friggieri, did not hold water. She therefore ordered the Police to begin investigating Mr Friggieri over the possibility that he had lied under oath.

Mr Mallia had been accused of lending money at an interest rate that was higher than that permissible by law on and before June 27, 2004.

The court heard several police inspectors testify that Mr Friggieri was not someone who could be trusted. One inspector said Mr Friggieri had often called him claiming to be someone else.

Mr Friggieri, who in the past was charged with fraud and misappropriation, had also made claims about a member of the judiciary.

According to the court, Mr Friggieri made claims against people in an attempt to wriggle out of paying back money he would have borrowed.

Magistrate Hayman said there was no evidence whatsoever that the interest being charged by Mr Mallia over the €3,700 Mr Friggieri had borrowed from him was outside the legal limit so she cleared him of the charge.