A bogus car dealer who defrauded his victims of more than €120,000 by demanding deposits for the importation of cars from the UK was yesterday sentenced to nine years in prison.

He was also found guilty of defrauding the government by claiming he was unemployed and then collecting social benefits.

Magistrate Ian Farrugia heard that Duncan Buttigieg, 31, of Għaxaq, started two website-based businesses, Direct from UK Car Dealer and Direct Cars Malta, and that they had failed to deliver several vehicles.

This was in spite of having accepted client deposits from €1,500 to €6,000.

Almost 100 people fell victim to the scam.

In October 2012, the police economic crimes unit was “flooded” with complaints about Mr Buttigieg, who has several other fraud cases pending against him.

He is also facing charges of conspiring to burn the garage and car belonging to Police Inspector Angelo Gafà, who at the time was a prosecuting officer within the economic crimes unit.

Magistrate Farrugia noted that Mr Buttigieg already had 10 convictions on his criminal record.

Furthermore, there was no prospect for the car clients to recoup the deposits that they had paid for the imaginary cars.

Mr Buttigieg had created the car importation websites to give the impression that he was an experienced car dealer, fooling his clients into believing he would deliver the cars of their dreams.

The magistrate said the accused had created a “precise and calculated” ploy to fool people.

Given the man’s “worrying” criminal record, Magistrate Farrugia accepted the plea bargain agreement struck by the prosecution and defence over the four cases of fraud involving car importation and a case regarding the misappropriation of social benefits.

According to the law, the crimes carry a jail term of between two and nine years.

The magistrate sentenced Mr Buttigieg to eight years in jail for the four fraud cases and another year for defrauding the government of social benefits.

Mr Buttigieg intends to appeal the judgment.

Police Inspector Ian Abdilla prosecuted and lawyer Noel Bianco was defence counsel.