A retired civil servant was yesterday given a suspended jail term after promising to provide social housing to a friend and extorting €2,300 from him.

Police Inspector Ian Abdilla testified that Gordon Pace, 63, had met a certain Carmel Bugeja in October 2005 and spoke in a way that led him to understand that he worked in a government ministry.

He promised to help him get a government residence for his son and insisted on being paid €1,165 immediately, which he would pass on to another individual who would pull some strings.

Mr Bugeja handed over the sum. Shortly afterwards he gave another €1,165 to Mr Pace who demanded the money in order to facilitate the processing of the application.

Mr Bugeja started becoming suspicious when a further €1,165 was requested and the case was reported to the police.

In a police statement, Mr Pace said he had borrowed the money from Mr Bugeja with the intention of returning it.

Mr Bugeja, however, said no money was ever repaid.

Magistrate Lawrence Quintano said it was clear the accused had received €2,300 after promising to arrange for a government property to be handed over to Mr Bugeja.

The court said it believed the testimony of Mr Bugeja and his family and handed down a one-year jail term suspended for a year after Mr Pace promised to repay the money.