A man who has already been barred from practising as a lawyer because of previous convictions has been handed a suspended jail term after being found guilty of defrauding his mother’s cousin of nearly €26,000 nine years ago.

Reuben Micallef, a 41-year-old from St Julian’s who graduated as a lawyer in 2002, received a two-year jail term suspended for four years after a court found him guilty of defrauding a client – his mother’s cousin – by using his money as collateral for a personal loan.

Mr Micallef, who had his warrant to practice the legal profession withdrawn in 2009, faced 12 charges including fraud, misappropriation, falsification and use of forged documents. 

The court heard that the lawyer had been approached by his second cousin, Edwin Zammit, to file an unfair dismissal case before the Industrial Tribunal in March 2007.

The lawyer had asked Mr Zammit for two bank guarantees. Mr Zammit obliged, since he did not know how to read and write and trusted him.

The tribunal decided against Mr Micallef but Mr Zammit sent a forged copy of a tribunal sentence to Mr Zammit showing he had won. He also printed and sent a false cheque to his sister, claiming this was Mr Zammit’s compensation.

Mr Micallef admitted to police asking Mr Zammit for a bank guarantee, which was not required, forging the pair’s signatures on the bank documents as well as forging the tribunal judgment. 

The bank guarantees were withdrawn and used to secure an overdraft to furnish his legal office, the court heard.

Mr Micallef has since repaid Mr Zammit most of the amount he owed him, the court heard.

It found Mr Micallef guilty of defrauding Mr Zammit, noting that “he did not lack criminal determination and design” and had created “a web of forged court rulings, cheques and guarantees”.

Magistrate Miriam Hayman handed down a two-year jail term suspended for four years and gave Mr Micallef six months within which to pay Mr Zammit the outstanding amount of €1,306 as well as €1,536 in court fees.

Inspector Jonathan Ferris prosecuted. Noel Bianco was defence lawyer and lawyer Stefano Filletti appeared parte civile for Mr Zammit.