The former chief executive of the government-owned Malta Air Traffic Services was yesterday handed a suspended sentence and a general interdiction after he admitted to defrauding the company of €25,000.

Lawrence Fenech, 65, of Sliema, was ordered to pay the amount back within six months.

Mr Fenech had been charged along with the company’s former financial director, Ian Falzon.

They were accused of fraud and misappropriation of public funds, amounting to some €150,000, using a government-issued Visa card for personal items between 2008 and 2010.

They had been arraigned after an investigation carried out by the Internal Audit Department in 2011 revealed irregularities.

The investigations had shown a company Visa card was used to pay for clothes, cruises, huge bills at restaurants, jewellery and mobile phones for family members.

Magistrate Aaron Bugeja sentenced Mr Fenech to a two-year jail term, suspended for four. Mr Falzon is denying all charges.

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