A Rabat man was yesterday charged with illegally employing a Libyan man who, in turn, was charged with threatening his "employer" with a penknife.

In the first arraignment, Libyan Ramsi Abdalla, 26, was given a six-month jail term suspended for two years after he admitted to threatening Carmel Abela and to the illegal possession of a penknife on Monday.

Mr Abela was then charged with illegally employing Mr Abdalla to carry out works at his Rabat house.

Mr Abela pleaded not guilty to the charge claiming that he never employed Mr Abdalla "officially".

He added that "officially" Mr Abdalla helped him with works in his house out of his own free will and he was to give him a token of appreciation for his help.

He insisted that he was only helping a man in need and that was not a crime as far as he knew.

Mr Abela was granted bail against a personal guarantee of Lm100.

Police Inspector Roland Cassar prosecuted.

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