Two men who cheated a man out of €6,500 in what is known as a black money scam have been given suspended jail terms after admitting to the crime.

Fraudsters Juste Pascal, 44, and Bertrand Cyril Ines Bodjongo, 36, were about to board a flight to Paris in February when the victim, Al Girbi Abdulaziz, surprised them at the airport and called the police.

Taking the witness stand during their arraignment, Police Inspector Yvonne Farrugia explained that in these types of scams the victims are usually sold black notes, which, when dipped into a special solution, are supposed to turn into money. The two men promised Mr Abdulaziz that when he placed the money in a special bag together with a special solution and the black notes, his money would double.

The officer added that Mr Pascal was well known with the French authorities as he had taken part in a hold-up.

Before handing down judgment, Magistrate Lawrence Quintano took into consideration the fact that the two men admitted to the charges, had paid the money back to the victim and have clean police records.

The court handed down to both a 22-month jail term suspended for four years.

Defence lawyer Leslie Cuschieri was defence counsel.

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