A man has been jailed for five years for complicity in the falsification of cheques issued to him when he sold two cars to a car trader who cannot read or write.
The court heard how the accused, Josef Grech of Rabat, had sold two cars to Victor Muscat .
Mr Muscat paid by three cheques, but since he did not know how to read or write, he only filled in the figures and signed the cheques, without writing anything.
It resulted that a cheque for €125 was changed to €12,500 before it was cashed.
Another two cheques for €600 was altered to €16,000 each before being cashed.
All the cheques were cashed by Mr Grech.
Mr Grech denied altering the cheques.
It resulted to the court after evidence by a caligraphy expert, that the wording on the cheques, as well as the additional figures, were made by Doreen Spiteri, Mr Grech's partner.
Ms Spiteri opted not to give evidence after the court warned her that she could face criminal proceedings.
Mr Grech was found not guilty of falsification but guilty of complicity in the falsification of the cheques. In imposing a five year effective jail term, the court also decreed that a suspended eight month jail term imposed on Mr Grech for a similar crime would now become effective as well.