A former security van driver who had been involved in a hold-up three years ago has been generally interdicted and conditionally discharged after lying to the police while giving them a statement a few hours after the incident.

Martin Gatt, 51, was driving the security van when the armed robbery occurred in Triq is-Sebħ, Qormi on August 23, 2006. During interrogation he said that after his colleague, Dennis Attard, had picked up the cash bag from HSBC Bank and put the money in the vault at the back of the vehicle. However, Mr Attard testified that when he got into the van after picking up the cash bag, this was thrown behind the seats in the front and not in the vault, as it should have been.

Mr Gatt testified that, because of pressure of work and because they would move from the bank and head straight to their base, they did not bother to put the money in the vault as per the correct procedure.

When the prosecution asked Mr Gatt why his testimony contrasted with what he had told them initially, he said that in his statement to the police he was still under shock and made a mistake.

Magistrate Doreen Clarke said that from reading Mr Gatt's statement it did not seem that he was under shock or confused when it was taken but rather the contrary, he was calm and collected.

She said she was convinced that the discrepancy in his testimony was not just a mistake but done on purpose because he did not want to get into trouble with his place of work.

In handing down judgment, the court said that it found Mr Gatt guilty and interdicted him for five years. The court said that "it was this part of the punishment that would surely leave the greatest effect on Mr Gatt".

She also conditionally discharged him for two years.

In essence, the interdiction means a person cannot perform any form of civil acts, such as selling or buying houses or cars, and will not be allowed to vote. Someone who is interdicted cannot sign official documents such as contracts and is not allowed to hold public office.