The former chief executive of the Malta Air Traffic Services Ltd, Lawrence Fenech, has been handed a two-year suspended jail term after pleading guilty to defrauding the company, misappropriating its funds and abuse of public office.

Mr Fenech and company financial director Ian Falzon had been charged with misappropriating over €150,000 with a government-issued Visa card for personal items between 2008 and 2010.

Following plea bargaining, Mr Fenech, 65 from Sliema, changed his plea to guilty.

Magistrate Aaron Bugeja jailed him for two years suspended for four and ordered him to pay back the €25,000, he misappropriated within six months. He also placed him under a perpetual general interdiction.

Mr Falzon is facing similar but separate proceedings.

MATS is a government-owned company that provides air navigation services to the Malta international Airport.

Police investigations had revealed that in a single year the former MATS officials spent over €92,000 on clothes, electronic equipment, cellular phones, jewellery, cruises and dining out.

Police Inspector Ian Abdilla prosecuted while lawyer Stephen Tonna Lowell appeared for Mr Fenech.

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