Josef GrechJosef Grech

The founder of the Dominic Mintoff Foundation and author of the former prime minister’s autobiography has been sentenced to 20 months in jail for fraud.

Josef Grech, 34, from Marsascala, and a co-accused, Omar Caruana, were found guilty of defrauding musicians who they used to engage on behalf of the Lourdes Philharmonic Society of Paola. The crime took place in February 2010 and the preceding months.

Magistrate Antonio Vella heard both men, who sat on the club’s committee, paid musicians through post-dated cheques as payment but these bounced because the Bank of Valletta account had been closed.

It resulted in court that Mr Caruana, the club’s treasurer, had himself fell for Mr Grech’s tricks. The court pointed out that Mr Caruana had the responsibility, as the sole signatory of the cheques, to ensure that funds were available.

They were jailed for a year each but Mr Grech had another eight months added in view of a suspended jail term imposed in May 2010 in connection with another case.

Police Inspector Jonathan Ferris prosecuted.

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