Guilty of fraud

Francis Mizzi, 44 of Marsa was yesterday handed down a nine-month jail term suspended for two years after pleading guilty to defrauding Lee Anthony Degiorgio and Dominic Grima of Xghajra.

In a separate case against Triza Grima, who is pleading not guilty to making false allegations on June 1 against journalist and official at the Office of the Prime Minister Robert Cutajar, Mr Mizzi had admitted he had taken money from Ms Grima and her boyfriend on the premise that he would help them find a job and used the cash instead to pay off debts he had accumulated when he fell victim to usury. He had told the court that although he had notified the couple he would forward the money to Net TV sports journalist Robert Cutajar, he had not approached Mr Cutajar.

Magistrate Saviour Demicoli yesterday took into consideration the early guilty plea filed by the accused, the fact that he had paid back the money he defrauded, his clean criminal record as well as his precarious state of health.

Lawyers Jason Azzopardi and Chris Busietta appeared for the accused while Edward Gatt appeared in parte civile. Inspector Angelo Gafà prosecuted.