Fake Sick Notes Land Psychiatrist And Boxer In Courtroom Trouble
Mark Xuereb, 53, a psychiatrist, and Scott Dixon, 48, a Scottish boxing coach, have been charged in connection with a series of falsified medical certificates allegedly used to excuse bail breaches.
Both residents of Sliema were arraigned under arrest this afternoon.
Dixon, who had been released on bail following a major cannabis seizure in 2009, had reportedly stopped signing the mandatory bail register. His bail conditions had included a €15,000 cash deposit and a personal guarantee of €25,000.
When police moved to re-arrest him, Dixon submitted several blue medical certificates in court in an attempt to justify his absences which were presented before Madam Justice Natasha Galea Sciberras.
The Criminal Court ordered an investigation, which lead to their arrest.
Xuereb, the founder of Crisis Resolution Malta in 2010, was charged in his capacity as a public officer with falsifying and issuing fraudulent certificates. He also faces allegations of providing false information to a public authority through a document intended to secure benefits for himself or others.
Dixon faced charges of forging and using forged documents, neglecting to update his identity card information, and violating his bail conditions.
Both Xuereb and Dixon pleaded not guilty.
Magistrate Marse-Ann Farrugia presided over the hearing. Police inspector Darryl Farr acted as prosecutor. Dixon was represented by lawyers Franco Debono, Michael Sciriha, and Adreana Zammit, while Matthew Xuereb served as legal counsel for Xuereb.
The case took an unusual turn when it was revealed that duty magistrate Marse-Ann Farrugia had already signed the arrest warrants for alleged offences committed between February 2023 and May 2024. Defence lawyer Franco Debono argued that since the magistrate had signed the warrants, she might not be able to rule on their validity.
The court acknowledged the unusual situation and paused the hearing to consider the issue. Upon resuming, the magistrate announced she would step aside from hearing the case due to these concerns. However, the defence later informed the court they had no objection to her continuing with the arraignment.
Magistrate Farrugia agreed to continue presiding over the arraignment only, and this was officially noted in the court record.
Bail was granted to Dixon with a €3,000 deposit and a €12,000 personal guarantee, while Xuereb was granted bail against a €10,000 personal guarantee. Both were ordered to sign the bail book and comply with a curfew.
Information sourced from Times of Malta.