Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1543310
4 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 18 FEBRUARY 2026 prosecution objected, citing the seri- NEWS Woman jailed 13 months for forging ex- husband's signature on bank cheque A woman from Valletta was sen- tenced to 13 months' imprison- ment after forging her ex-hus- band's signature on a bank cheque and cashing it for her own benefit. Joann Debono, 47, was found guilty of forgery and the ma- licious use of documents. She was acquitted of a separate charge of obtaining money or property by false pretences. Inspector Priscilla Caruana Lee testified that police re- ceived a report concerning a cheque issued as payment for gypsum works carried out by Hussein Mohammed Ab- dul and Diego Giordano. The cheque, amounting to €1,197, was issued in Hussein's name but was mistakenly sent to a Valletta address listed on a VAT receipt. Although the cheque had been cashed, Hussein later reported that he had never received it. He informed police that his ex- wife, Debono, resided at that address. Subsequent investiga- tions confirmed that Debono had cashed the cheque. A copy of the cheque ob- tained from the bank showed Hussein's name written on the back, along with Debono's sig- nature. When questioned by police, Debono claimed she had met her ex-husband and that he had agreed to give her the cheque to cover outstand- ing electricity bills. Hussein, however, denied such claims of meeting her or authorising the cheque to be cashed. He added that there had been other cas- es where she had asked him for money. Debono further alleged that the cheque had been given to her on condition that she assist Hussein with a citizenship ap- plication, a claim that was con- tradicted by evidence showing that the application had been submitted before the police re- port was filed. Hussein testified that the cheque had been issued by a company as payment for con- struction work and sent to his former address by mistake. He became aware it had been cashed after contacting the is- suer, who informed him that payment had already been made. He confirmed that the signature on the cheque was not his and denied ever giving Debono permission to cash it. Under cross-examination, Hussein explained that the VAT address remained his for- mer one because he had been instructed to continue using the same VAT book until it was exhausted, despite notifying the VAT Department of his ad- dress change. Rita Farrugia, Fraud and In- vestigations Manager at HSBC, testified that the bank did not verify whether the signature or handwriting belonged to him. She explained the bank proce- dure: When a person presents such a cheque, we check that it bears the payee's signature, identify the person in front of us, and pay that person. She confirmed that part of the funds were withdrawn in cash and part deposited into Joann Debono's account. Under cross-examination, she stated that it is normal proce- dure, as cheques are negotiable instruments, and a payee may endorse a cheque to a third party. She highlighted that the bank is not responsible for verifying the authenticity of the payee's signature, only the identity of the person being paid. The court held that the ac- cused admitted writing the name and ID number of her ex-husband on the cheque and subsequently cashed it, consti- tuting material forgery. Thus, she was jailed for 13 months. The fraud charge was dismissed due to conflicting evidence and insufficient proof of deception. Inspector Daryl Borg pros- ecuted. Magistrate Yana Mi- callef Stafrace presided over the case. MAYA GALEA mgalea@mediatoday.com.mt Ta' Qali gravel 'blunder' intentionally designed to squeeze money out of picnic area, parties claim THE Ta' Qali gravel saga's latest development has irked opposition parties that claim that the contro- versial "regeneration" was inten- tionally designed to squeeze more money out of the space. The Ta' Qali gravel controver- sy has captured headlines for months. The controversial project cost more than €311,000 and was carried out through a direct order without environmental permits or an impact assessment. It has been the subject of anger and ridicule after the beloved space was changed without explanation. According to a legal notice, gov- ernment intends to charge €2,500 to organisers seeking to use the space for mass events, a decision the Opposition says confirms sus- picions that the site was deliberate- ly altered to accommodate com- mercial activities. The Nationalist Party has ac- cused government of taking the area away from families in order to generate revenue from events that could be hosted in other, pur- pose-built venues. This was echoed by Momen- tum leader Arnold Cassola, who claimed that the area has been changed into "another money spinner." MATTHEW FARRUGIA mfarrugia@mediatoday.com.mt The Ta' Qali picnic area, where grass did not grow as a result of the gravel that was spread on its surface