A comment against the Pope posted on Facebook and meant as a "joke" became a very serious affair after the 24-year-old author was yesterday given a suspended sentence and fined €500.

Karl Farrugia, from Swieqi, joined Facebook group, No to Pope Benedict XVI in Malta, and posted a comment on April 7, saying he wished someone would shoot the Pope in the hands, the feet and in his side to mimic the wounds of Christ.

He was found guilty of publishing the comment, which, according to the Press Act, threatened, insulted, or exposed the Pope to hatred.

Mr Farrugia testified that the comment was meant to be a joke, which would be understood by people who joined the group, adding that he wanted to make a connection between Christ and the Pope.

At this point, Magistrate Silvio Meli told him not to insult his intelligence and to speak the truth.

Mr Farrugia replied that the comment was meant as a joke and he never wanted anybody to harm the Pope.

The magistrate asked why he thought the comment to be a joke and Mr Farrugia said he assumed people in the group would understand.

In pleas on punishment, defence lawyer Owen Bonnici said that, once the website was registered in America, technically Mr Farrugia could not be found guilty because he was charged with publishing in Malta when Facebook was registered in the US.

He added that his client was a first-time offender and even though the joke was in bad taste, if the accused were to be found guilty the magistrate should either hand down a fine or a suspended jail term.

Magistrate Meli opted to do both.

Mr Farrugia is set to appeal the judgment.

A Facebook group entitled Donate To Support Karl "Kaiser" Farrugia With His Unjustified Sentence, has been set-up to support Mr Farrugia and to collect money to help him pay the fine. At the time of writing, the group had 126 members.

Police Inspector Robert Cremona prosecuted.