An Italian man who tried to ship a rented car to Libya has been given a one year jail term suspended for two years.

Michael Cuffari, 24, of Naxxar, rented a BMW from Avis (Italy) and came to Malta with it on the Virtú Ferries catamaran last Monday.

Police, who were carrying out checks on vehicles in an anticipation of a rise in such thefts, caught Mr Cuffari breaching the conditions of the rental company as the car was should not have left Italy, sources close to the case said.

Mr Cuffari had an agreement to sell the car to a Maltese man who would then ship the car to Libya where it would be become untraceable in what is believed to be becoming a trend, the same sources said.

During his arraignment yesterday, Mr Cuffari admitted to misappropriation of the car.

Police Inspector James Grech prosecuted.

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