Taxpayers will foot the bill for round-the-clock surveillance of two Sicilian fishermen this weekend because the court registry closed minutes before they could settle a hefty fine yesterday.

Salvatore Saporito, 29, and Salvatore Penna, 52, were stopped by the Armed Forces of Malta on Thursday morning in separate boats carrying about €680 worth of prawns and hake caught in Maltese waters.

They admitted to illegal fishing charges and were fined €20,000 each.

However, by the time the hearing ended at about 12.30pm, the office that handles such payments had closed since civil servants are on summer half-days.

The issue was brought to Magistrate Audrey Demicoli’s attention during the hearing, so she ordered they were not to leave the island until the fine was paid.

A 24-hour watch had to be mounted to enforce the order.

Mr Penna, aboard the La Madonnina, and Mr Saporito, aboard the La Principessa Prima, were caught fishing illegally at 8.25am and 9am respectively about eight miles into Maltese waters.

The fish found on both vessels were confiscated immediately and sold before they were arraigned. The boats were taken to Boiler Wharf in Senglea.

Wearing a shorts and T-shirt, Mr Penna admitted to illegal fishing, failing to declare his catch and failing to have a vessel monitoring system onboard.

Mr Saporito admitted to the same charges except the last as he had the necessary equipment.

In submissions on punishment, Police Inspector Godwin Scerri said he was seeking a punishment that was in line with similar cases.

Lawyer Charmaine Cherrett argued that Mr Penna had made a genuine mistake, adding that he had not ventured very far and was only eight miles inside Maltese waters.