A woman who used her mobile phone to tarnish the reputation of a lawyer through an SMS was today made to answer criminally for the message sent on March 30.

Francine Cini, 31, from Żebbuġ, Gozo, sent her message to a male client of lawyer Kevin Mompalao. It was clearly intended to tarnish the lawyer’s reputation.

The court in Gozo, presided over by Magistrate Joseph Mifsud, observed that the sending of the message had not only been admitted by the accused but had also been confirmed by the relative service provider.

The court declared that it would not tolerate such abuse in respect of court officials who had to be allowed to carry out their duties in a “serene manner” without being mocked or insulted for doing so.

Moreover, means of communication were intended to provide a service and not to “direct insults against one person or another,” the court remarked.

The accused was fined €5,000. She also has to submit a personal guarantee of €2,000 effective for one year in respect of the injured party.

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