Fined Lm41,125 for importation of tractor stolen in Marseilles

A Zebbug man was yesterday given a two-year jail term suspended for four years and fined Lm41,125 for evading duty on a stolen tractor when he imported it into Malta by attaching the number plates of his tractor onto it.

Raymond Caruana, 42, was found guilty of handling the stolen tractor, a Volvo Tractor FH 12 1998 model, that was stolen from Marseilles on February 21, 1998 to the detriment of Alisan International Transport and Trade Incorporated.

Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera also found Caruana guilty of evading Lm3,500 in duty and Lm2,625 in excise duty on the tractor that was worth Lm17,500.

He was also found guilty of giving false information to the authorities when he attached the number plates of his tractor, a Volvo FH 12 1992 model, onto the stolen tractor and giving false information to customs officials regarding a temporary exportation permit.

Caruana was, however, cleared of stealing the tractor and tampering with its chassis number after magistrate Scerri Herrera noted that the police had failed to prove he was in Marseilles when it was stolen or that he had tampered with the chassis number.