Thomas Vella, 48 of Paola has been given a year jail term suspended for two years after he refused to pay for a television set he had purchased in 2001.

Mr Vella was found guilty of defrauding Raymond Cutajar after buying a television set on January 21, 2001. Mr Cutajar, his father Gaetano and their helper Kenneth Buttigieg testified that the Mr Vella had purchased a Grundig television. After some months, Mr Vella refused to pay for his purchase claiming the television set was an inch smaller than he had asked for.

Taking the witness stand Mr Vella denied buying a television set from Cutajar, but alleged he had bought a stereo which was faulty. The accused alleged the shopkeeper had taken so long to repair the stereo that he had to resort to the Consumer Affairs Unit.

The court ruled that three witnesses could not all be wrong, especially after the helper himself testified he had personally loaded the television in Vella’s car.

Magistrate Miriam Hayman handed Vella a year’s jail term suspended for two years. Inspector Saviour Baldacchino prosecuted.