A 35-year-old man has been jailed for four months after admitting to breaching bail by attempting to fly to India on a one-way ticket.
Melbin Devassy was on bail over charges of reckless driving, driving without insurance, and without a licence following a February 2024 arrest in Luqa. His bail conditions included a €2,000 deposit, a €5,000 personal guarantee, a ban on leaving Malta, and daily signing of the bail book.
In July, Devassy tried to travel to Mumbai, telling police he wanted to visit his brother, allegedly injured in a car accident. The court said he should have sought a change to his bail terms through his lawyer if the situation was genuine.
Noting the one-way ticket suggested no intention to return, the court jailed him for four months and ordered the forfeiture of his €5,000 personal guarantee from the first bail set. It could not order forfeiture from the second set due to missing documentation. His bail was revoked and an immediate arrest ordered.
Devassy denies the original driving-related charges.
