The company that runs the Malta-Sicily ferry service has given a man one week to pay damages after he made a hoax bomb call that forced the catamaran to return to port.

The incident occurred on January 26.

After learning that his brothers were running late to catch the Virtü Ferries catamaran back from Sicily, Aaron Sant, 28, of Mqabba, phoned police headquarters from his mobile phone in Malta saying there was a “bomb” onboard. The call worked, as the catamaran, carrying 163 passengers and 30 vehicles, returned to Pozzallo and its subsequent departure was delayed by four hours until a search was carried out.

But the prank backfired badly on Mr Sant, who was arraigned two days later, admitted to making the call and was handed a six-month jail term suspended for a year.

Virtü Ferries is now demanding compensation. In a judicial letter filed yesterday, the company said it had suffered damages for which Mr Sant was solely responsible and gave him a week to pay damages or face further legal steps.

The amount of damages being claimed was not specified.

The letter was signed by lawyer Kristina Rapa Manché.