A man today pleaded guilty to having bribed a VRT tester after his vehicle had twice failed the test.

Godfrey Formosa, 38, from Naxxar, was charged with trading in influence, making use of certificates containing false declarations, making a false declaration to a public authority, forgery of a private writing and using a vehicle without a valid road licence.

The prosecution explained that the accused had contacted a VRT garage to make the necessary arrangements before the date of inspection. After having obtained the necessary certificate, he handed it over to Transport Malta for the issue of the relative road licence.

The court, presided by magistrate Gabriella Vella, heard that the accused was a car enthusiast. Among his collection was a Ford Transit which was subject to a 'stop licence', which meant that the vehicle ought not to have been on the road.

Refusing the assistance of a lawyer, the accused appeared before the court and declared that although he was the owner of the vehicle, the VRT testing was entrusted to his employees. "I did not do this personally," the accused pleaded.

The prosecution informed the court that since the accused had cooperated fully in the course of investigations and had admitted to the bribery during questioning, there was no objection to a minimum punishment.

The court put off the case for tomorrow for sentencing.

Inspector Sergio Pisani prosecuted.