A notary was today conditionally discharged for two years after being convicted of the misappropriation of €7,600 given to him by a client to cover capital gains tax on the purchase of a maisonette.

Magistrate Audrey Demicoli found Charles Vella guilty of the charge after hearing how on November 8, 2007, he drew up a contract for the sale of a maisonette in Żabbar.

His clients gave him the money so that he would then register the contract and pay the taxes they owed. However, the contract was not registered and the tax remained unpaid.

After reminding the notary about this several times, the clients referred the matter to police. Mr Vella admitted to not registering the contract but said this was an oversight.

Magistrate Demicoli, however, noted that Mr Vella’s clients had repeatedly asked him to register their contract.

She found him guilty of misappropriation and noted that, since then, the contract had been registered and the tax paid.

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