A young Italian man who rented a car in Italy and then tried to sell the vehicle in Malta, where it would be shipped to Libya and become untraceable, has been given a suspended jail term.

Michael Cuffari, 24, from Naxxar, had rented a BMW from international car rental giant, Avis, in his home country before he drove to Malta via Virtu Ferries on Monday.

Police were carrying out checks on vehicles in an anticipation of a rise in such thefts and caught Mr Cuffari breaching the conditions of the rental company, which specified that the car is banned from leaving the country, sources close to the case said.

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

During the arraignment yesterday, Mr Cuffari admitted to misappropriation of the car. Magistrate Miriam Hayman sentenced him to one year in jail suspended for two years.

Police inspector James Grech prosecuted.