Updated 2.19pm 

A man was granted bail against a personal guarantee of €20,000 on Monday after pleading guilty to having been responsible for a bomb hoax which stopped the Gozo ferry service for several hours on Tuesday last week.

During the arraignment, prosecutors said the incident had caused inconvenience to the company and to hundreds of persons, including patients who had gone to Malta for hospital treatment and others who had been heading for the airport.

Ronald Mallia, 30 of Mosta, admitted to making a false threat, causing Gozo Channel employees and others to fear violence and misuse of electronic equipment.

Inspector Antonello Grech said the call had caused chaos and literally brought traffic to and from Gozo to a halt, harming the sister island's economy.

The prosecution called for an effective jail term but the defence argued that a prison sentence would not serve any good. Defence counsel said Mr Mallia had acted 'without thinking about the consequences.'

“He is still at a point in his life where he may choose not to follow the wrong path,” Dr Clint Tabone argued.

He suggested that it would benefit society much more if the accused were to be made to serve the community rather than be sent to jail. That way he would replay society for the harm that was caused. 

The case was put off for sentencing.

When the sitting resumed, Magistrate Aaron Bugeja said the court was requesting a pre-sentencing report.

The prosecution objected to bail, saying that Mr Mallia had not given a precise address when asked by investigators. Moreover, he had mentioned another person, who was still to be investigated.

Magistrate Bugeja asked Mr Mallia’s parents whether they may step in as guarantors and warned them of consequences to them if bail conditions were not observed. After consulting lawyers, the parents accepted the magistrate's request. 

Bail was granted against a personal guarantee of €20,000 pending the pre-sentencing report and sentencing. 

Superintendent Antonello Grech and Inspector Omar Zammit prosecuted. Lawyers Clint Tabone and Paul Borg were defence counsel.

The bomb threat, which the ferry operator received by phone, forced the service to stop for most of the day as two ferries and many cars were searched.

Nothing suspicious was found.  

In December 2016, a man was fined €10,000 for a bomb hoax at the law courts.