Fugitive charged after failing to appear in court 24 times

A fugitive from justice has been arraigned in court after spending two years on the run and his doctor ordered to explain why he had issued 27 sick certificates to the man.

Charlot Gauci, 48, from Gzira, was arrested by the police yesterday. Magistrate Joe Mifsud noted that the man had failed to appear for no less than 24 court sittings. Inspector Maurice Curmi told the court that the man had not signed his bail book for over two years.

The court confiscated his €10,000 and €500 deposit over the 2013 bail for fraud. In a separate case, Gauci is accused of defrauding two people out of €16,000.

Where the police don’t find you, the people of Malta will find you Magistrate Joe Mifsud

“Tardare si, scappare no,” said the court. “Where the police don’t find you, the people of Malta will find you.” He thanked the Maltese people for turning the man in.

The court ordered that Dr. Ray Fenech be brought to testify for issuing 27 sick certificates to the accused and reserved the right to proceed further by ordering the Commissioner of Police to investigate and send a copy of the proceedings to the Medical council if his explanation isn’t satisfactory.

Asked if he had repaid the victims, he said that they “don’t have the right” to be repaid due to a contract.

The man claimed that the police had told him to leave the station without signing the bail book.

The court noted that the man had a cocaine habit and ordered that he be given the medical care he needed.