There were seven reports of usury this year, and four persons were charged in court.
Answering a parliamentary question by Labour MP Chris Agius, Justice Minister Carm Mifsud Bonnici said usury carried with it a jail sentence of not more than 18 months and the payment of a fine between €2,329.37 and €34,940.60.
The court would also order anybody found guilty to refund the excessive amount which it would have considered disproportionate to the original loan.
If the convicted person refunded this amount to the victim before the end of the court case they would benefit from a reduction of sentence.