A bouncer at the popular Havana nightclub has been handed a suspended sentence after being found guilty of smashing a patron's jawbone in January 2012.   

Kevin Mallia, 40, from Sliema, was jailed for two years suspended for four years after he was found guilty of seriously injuring the victim early on January 3, 2012. His colleague, Aaron Vella, 28, from Mosta, was conditionally discharged for a year after a court only found him guilty of assaulting the victim and his friend and of breaching the peace. 

Magistrate Anthony Vella heard how the victim, his partner and his friend were at the club when the friend fainted so his friends accompanied him to the men's toilet. 

When Mr Mallia saw the three entering the toilets, he used excessive force to get them out, with the victim and his friend sustaining injuries. 

It resulted that the victim had a smashed jawbone and had to have a metal plate inserted in his jaw to support it. 

The court watched closed circuit footage in which Mr Mallia is seen hitting the victims and using excessive force. 

As he also found him guilty of working as a bouncer without a licence, Magistrate Vella handed Mr Mallia a suspended sentence and placed him under probation for three years. In view of his lesser involvement in the case, Mr Vella was conditionally discharged for a year. 

Police Inspectors Godwin Scerri and Luke Bonello prosecuted while lawyers Veronique Dalli and Dean Hili represented the accused.