A notary was conditionally discharged for two years over the misappropriation of €7,600 entrusted to him by a client.

He was given the money to cover the capital gains tax on the purchase of a maisonette.

Magistrate Audrey Demicoli found Charles Vella guilty of the charge after hearing how on November 8, 2007, he drew up a contract for the sale of a maisonette in Żabbar and took the money clients deposited with him to pay the resulting tax bill.

The contract was not registered and the taxes remained unpaid.

After reminding the notary about this several times, the clients referred the matter to the police.

Mr Vella admitted to not registering the contract but said it was an oversight. Magistrate Demicoli, however, noted that Mr Vella’s clients had repeatedly asked him to register their contract.

She found him guilty of misappropriation and noted that, since then, the contract had been registered and the tax paid.