A notary charged with the falsification of documents has been ordered not to leave the island for failing to turn up for a court sitting before being extradited to Malta from Spain.

Pierre Falzon, 51, of St Paul’s Bay, also known as Peter or Pietru, was in Milan when the last sitting was due to be heard, Police Inspector Ian Abdilla said in court yesterday.

He sent a medical certificate issued by his doctor there stating he could not attend the sitting because he was on a 15-day recovery period. However, he somehow managed to regain his strength and made his way to Spain, the officer said.

The accused was arrested in Marbella on the strength of an arrest warrant issued both in Malta and Europe-wide and returned to Malta two days ago.

Dr Falzon appeared in court yesterday but Mr Abdilla asked Magistrate Doreen Clarke to impose certain conditions to make sure he would attend next time.

Defence lawyer Michael Sciriha told the magistrate the officer was misleading the court and that his client had actually accepted to be extradited to Malta. Furthermore, had he wanted to escape he would have flown to some South American country.

Magistrate Clarke ordered Dr Falzon to deposit his identity card and passport in court and prohibited him from travelling. She also ordered him to report to his local police station every day against a personal guarantee of €20,000.

Dr Falzon has another two cases, both for alleged falsification of documents.