Punishment raised in illegal lottery case

An appeal court yesterday added a suspended jail term to a €5,659 fine imposed on a man who ran an illegal lottery office.

Edward Falzon of Ħamrun had been fined by the Magistrates' Court which, last June, found guilty of taking bets and operating a lottery office without authorisation.

The Attorney General appealed, arguing that the court had incorrectly applied the law as Mr Falzon should also have been jailed.

Mr Justice Michael Mallia said the Attorney General had reason to appeal because the law specifically laid down that a jail term had to accompany the fine.

Thus, he modified the sentence, confirming the fine and adding a six-month jail term suspended for two years. Police Inspector Raymond Aquilina prosecuted.