35-year-old Domenico Furfaro of Rome pleaded guilty to defrauding Shopwise Developments Ltd out of €16,500 when he paid his gambling bill at Casino di Venezia with the company’s cheques.
Mr Furfaro had arrived in Malta to do business but ended up in Casino di Venezia, where he spent all his money. Using cheques belonging to a friend, he gambled away a further €16,500.
The court heard that Mr Furfaro had paid back €5,000 and would pay back the rest of the money this afternoon.
He was remanded in custody.