A fraudster who swindled two brothers and their sister out of more than €1 million has been sentenced to two years and five months.

Joseph Francis Scerri, 50, of Birkirkara persuaded the siblings to believe he was investing their money in US real estate.

He fabricated a letter from Professor Alberto Cerrutti who was supposedly representing Empire State Buildings and told the victims he would investing in the Vatican Bank and oil companies in England and Dubai and a tunnel between Malta and Sicily.

Paul and Joseph Schembri and their sister, Emanuela told the court that they had invested €558,000, £192,000 and €93,700, €65,000 and €70,000.

Testifying, Mr Scerri withdrew what he said on his police statement and blamed Paul Schembri arguing that he was the one approached and it was Mr Schembri who produced the certificates.

He claimed that Mr Schembri wanted him to create hidden investments and invest the money in a car business. When he saw that the business took a turn for the worse, he threatened to report Mr Scerri to the police.

In her considerations, Magistrate Claire Stafrace Zammit said that Mr Scerri's version was not credible.

She said she studied his police statements and found that he had almost admitted to committing the crime and no where did he mention the car business which in itself could not be contradicted by Mr Schembri because he had died during proceedings.

Lawyer Mark Busuttil represented Mr Scerri.