A young German student who blackmailed a Maltese married man with whom she had a brief affair, threatening to spill the beans to his wife, was given a suspended sentence after admitting her wrongdoing in court.

Essoutouti Asia, the 23-year old woman, was arrested at a Paceville hotel where she was lodging after the police in Malta received a report alleging that the young lady had traveled to the island, demanding a €60,000 car from her victim against threats of disclosing compromising videos and photos to his wife.

The woman was arrested and arraigned on Friday over charges of extortion, harassment, misuse of electronic communications equipment and possession of pepper spray.

The prosecution explained how the Maltese man had met the young woman on a trip to Germany, the encounter ending up on an intimate level after the woman allegedly got him drunk, took his credit card and extorted €15,000 out of pocket in exchange for parting company without telling his wife.

However, the woman later extorted more money from the businessman by claiming she was bearing his child, sending him an ultrasound scan belonging to her pregnant sister to back her claim.

The prosecution explained in court on Friday that the woman had admitted under interrogation that the ultrasound image was not hers.

Lawyer Joseph Giglio, appearing parte civile, requested the court to order the destruction of the mobile phone as well as all the other compromising material evidence which could possibly leak the victim’s identity.

Legal aid lawyer Joseph Ellis explained that his client had repented for her wrong and was truly sorry.

Moreover she had a clean criminal record, Dr Ellis argued, adding that “a suspended sentence would be a sword of Damocles over her so she would not repeat the reprehensible acts.”

Prosecuting Inspector Elton Taliana also pointed out that the accused had cooperated.

The court, presided over by magistrate Gabriella Vella, after hearing these submissions declared the accused guilty upon her own admission and condemned her to an 18-month jail term suspended for four years.

The court also ordered the confiscation and destruction of the woman’s mobile phone.