Accused of defrauding neighbours of €1 million

Joseph Francis Scerri, 50, was today charged in court with  defrauding two brothers and their sister of over €1 million when he got them to believe he would be investing their money in US. He pleaded not guilt to defrauding his neighbours Paul, Joseph and Emanuela Schembri, misappropriation and forgery on and before July this year. Mr Scerri, from Birkirkara, is currently held at the Corradino Correctional Facility in preventive custody over similar cases. In October Mr Scerri, a former clerical hardware technician at HSBC Bank, pleaded not guilty to defrauding Maria Concetta Cefai, Mario Gauci, and HSBC Bank Malta. He was denied bail after the magistrate noted that there was the risk that he could flee the island and that he committed another crime.