A Gozitan man who admitted to manufacturing bullets which were eventually shipped to Libya has been condemned to a two-year jail term suspended for four years.

Mario Farrugia, 41 of Xaghra, had initially pleaded not guilty, but changed his plea before the court in Gozo started hearing testimony.

The police said that Mr Farrugia had been manufacturing bullets using components given to him by Michael Azzopardi, 53 of Rabat.

The ammunition was then taken to Marsamxett and loaded on boats to Libya.

Mr Farrugia, owner of a shop called Hobbies, was found in possession of 70,000 bullets.

He was accused of conspiring with other people in Malta and abroad to sell ammunition and failing to keep a proper inventory of weapons and ammunition in his possession, in breach of his firearms shop licence.

In handing down judgement, Magistrate Neville Camilleri noted the early guilty plea and Mr Farrugia’s cooperation with the police. He ordered the confiscation of the bullets.

Inspector Keith Arnaud prosecuted. Lawyers Franco Debono and Marion Camilleri were defence counsel.

Another two men, one of them Libyan, stand accused in connection with the case.