A judge has ordered a man to refund €345,216 which he misappropriated from his former employer, after hearing how he used the company’s money to buy cars and lead a “good life”.

The court found Vince Etienne Vella, 33, from San Ġwann, had misappropriated the funds of Fenplay Ltd, formerly CBM Bookmaker International Ltd, during his employment between August 2007 and August 2009.

Mr Vella’s father, Emanuel, was also implicated in the misappropriation by his son after the court heard his son had transferred, through internet banking, almost €200,000 into his HSBC account.

Mr Vella has been charged with misappropriation in the criminal court but this case is still pending.

The First Hall of the Civil Court, presided over by Mr Justice Anthony Ellul, heard Mr Vella joined the firm on August 1, 2007.

He was responsible for its bank accounts and payments to clients, suppliers and creditors.

Just three months after he joined, he began transferring the company’s funds to various people, including his father, and used the money to purchase – among other things – cars, motorcycles and spare parts.

In his police statement, Mr Vella said: “I bought various vehicles and spare parts and I had a good life.”

According to Police Inspector Ivan Cilia, Mr Vella said he had financial difficulties so decided to use company funds, with the intention of immediately replacing them. When no one realised, he continued siphoning off money.

He told police he had “lost count” how much he had taken. He had purchased four cars and two motorbikes, including a Honda costing €45,338.

A Transport Malta official told the court Mr Vella’s father had registered several cars, including a Subaru Impreza, a Harley Davidson and a Honda S2000.

Mr Vella had a Westfield Sports Buggy, a Piaggio Runner and a Fiat Panda registered in his name.

The court also referred to a Facebook photo album with pictures of all Mr Vella’s vehicles.

Fenplay director Joevin Genovese told the court suppliers e-mailed him over non-payment so he accessed the firm’s bank records and found unauthorised transactions to individuals who were not creditors. He called Mr Vella, who told him to check with the bank as there must have been a mistake.

Inspector Cilia said that in his resignation letter, Mr Vella told his bosses he had found a job in the UK and was leaving Malta.

The company claimed Mr Vella had used €148,541 to purchase cars, bikes and spare parts and had transferred €196,675 to his father’s bank account.

Mr Justice Vella ruled Mr Vella’s mother had not taken part in the misappropriation and ordered Mr Vella to pay back a total of €345,216, including the cash he had transferred to his father’s account.

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