A 44-year-old man was yesterday charged with forcing a postman to give him the social security cheque of a person he claimed owed him money.

Benny Muscat, who pleaded not guilty, was also charged with defrauding Saviour Cachia and the Social Security Department when he cashed the €88 cheque and committing the crime during the operative time of a suspended jail term.

Lawyer Mark Busuttil, who represented Mr Muscat, told the court that his client had taken the cheque because Mr Cachia owed him money, "so he did what he thought he should do".

Magistrate Doreen Clarke granted bail but on condition that he does not leave his Vittoriosa home. He is expected to sign the police bail book every week and to go to the hospital's drug detox centre. She bound him by a personal guarantee of €2,000.

Police Inspector Fabian Fleri prosecuted.

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