A request by a VAT Department employee, convicted of corruption, to have part of his punishments reversed was rejected by the Chief Justice.

Carmel Deguara was the only person convicted in the VAT scam who would have been severely affected by the general interdiction punishment because he was a civil servant. The interdiction denies people the right to vote and bars them from holding public office or employment, which would automatically mean he would lose his job.

Ruling on an application to have the interdiction removed, Chief Justice Vincent De Gaetano said it was inconceivable that a person with a prison sentence for corruption in connection with one's job could continue to work in the civil service. Like extortion and evasion, his crime directly undermined trust in the public service and all state institutions. "Whether the act of corruption happened once or more than once is irrelevant," the Chief Justice said. Mr Deguara admitted to bribery and corruption after he took about €466 to issue an unwarranted VAT refund.

His argument was that his case may soon be heard by the Public Service Commission and he did not want the court's decision to tie the commission's hands.

His position, both in terms of the crime committed and the way the punishment affected him, was different to that of the businessmen convicted in the same case.

He pointed out that he had a family and young children, arguing that they too would suffer the consequences if he was fired.

He highlighted the fact that he was just 41 and, apart from this case, had always had good performance reports.

By law, a general interdiction may be reversed at the discretion of the court if an application is filed.

Mr Deguara was one of seven people who so far admitted to the VAT scam. They were all handed down suspended prison sentences, which were later confirmed after an appeal by the Attorney General.

Lawyer Veronique Dalli appeared for Mr Deguara.