Two hunters who this morning pleaded guilty to bribing a police officers have been jailed for 18 months. Their jail term has, however, been suspended until their appeal is heard.

This morning, three hunters were charged with bribing PC Kenneth Sevasta and conspiring with others to carry out their crime.

Two - Glen Neil Scicluna, 33, of Marsascala, and Roderick Stabile, 27 of Zejtun, pleaded guilty while Eric Scicluna, 38, of Mtarfa, pleaded not guilty.

They were also charged with relapsing.

In handing down judgement about the two who pleaded guilty, Magistrate Edwina Grima said that this was a very serious crime and as the hunters were accomplices it seemed that the PC had initiated the crime. He is being arraigned on Monday.

Supt Mario Spiteri testified that the police commissioner had asked him to investigate the three men.

They gave a statement but Mr Eric Scicluna was sent for to give a second statement as his first did not include the elements of a crime.

Replying to questions by defence lawyers Joe Giglio and Michael Falzon, Supt Spiteri said that although Mr Scicluna was not given the formal warning that he was not duty bound to answer questions and that his replies might be used as proof against him the second time round, he had told him that his rights were the same as when he had given the first statement.

The superintendent, however, admitted, that the person who had signed the statement had not been present and this was wrong.

Mr Eric Scicluna’s case continues next month.

Appearing for the two who pleaded guilty, lawyer Joe Mifsud said that Mr Stabile was a good friend of PC Sevasta and they used to go out for meals together.

Mr Glen Scicluna, on the other hand, had given PC Sevasta some supermarket vouchers.