An Italian man spent a lot of time on his phone, including while waiting to appear before a magistrate yesterday, to raise the €16,500 he had to pay to Casino Di Venezia, which, he admitted, he had defrauded.

Domenico Furfaro, 35, who claims to be the chief executive officer of a company employing 500 people, had come to Malta on business and gambled his money away. He then made use of six cheques he had stolen from a friend to settle a bill of €16,500 with the casino in connection with other gambling debts.

He admitted to stealing the six cheques from the cheque book of a friend in Naxxar last Tuesday using them four days later at the casino.

Police Inspector Angelo Gafá told the court that the accused had managed to pay back €5,000 before being brought to court. Just before the start of proceedings Mr Furfaro wired the money to the casino bank account, promising that it will be there by 1 p.m. yesterday. In fact, before his arraignment, Mr Furfaro frantically called friends asking for help.

Legal aid lawyer Richard Sladden asked the court for guidance because although Mr Furfaro had requested legal aid he had told him that he was the CEO of a company employing 500 people. If he is indeed a CEO then he did not qualify for legal aid, Dr Sladden said. Dr Sladden then represented Mr Furfaro for the arraignment proceedings only.

Mr Furfaro pleaded guilty to stealing six cheques to the detriment of Shopwise Developments Ltd and Bank of Valletta and defrauding the casino last Saturday.

He is under preventive arrest pending sentencing today.