Philip Azzopardi 67 of Birkirkara, was jailed for six years today after a jury last month convicted him of smuggling illegal immigrants in 2003.

Joseph Vella, 54 of Victoria, Gozo, was jailed for 18 months for his role in the crime.

Mr Vella had been found not guilty of providing the means of escape for immigrants from Malta.

The sentence had been delayed after Mr Vella fell ill as the verdict was about to be read.

The case was investigated by the police when, on August 8, 2003, they caught 14 illegal immigrants, including six who had escaped from police headquarters together with another 49. They were arrested on the Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq seashore and during questioning told the police they had been hiding at the Xemxija Bay Hotel. The police searched the hotel where they found another two of the escaped immigrants.

The police then searched the Marsalforn Guest House and arrested Mr Vella who denied any involvement.

Mr Azzopardi turned himself in after hearing the police were looking for him.

The immigrants told the police they had paid the two men varying amounts of money for the chance to escape. Some said they handed over $150, others $900, some $1,050 and others €699 by transferring money from a bank account in Germany into Mr Azzopardi’s bank account.

Lawyers Manwel Mallia and Arthur Azzopardi were defence counsel.