A 27-year-old Libyan man was today condemned to a two-year jail term suspended for four years after he admitted to importing 30 tortoises.

He arrived on a flight from Tripoli yesterday, with the tortoises taped to the inside of his jacket.

He told police inspector Ramon Mercieca during questioning that tortoises were very common in Libya and he brought them here to exchange them for canaries.

Inspector Mercieca told the court that the accused, Jaloud Mahmud, had cooperated fully with the police.

The accused admitted illegally importing protected species and animal cruelty.

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