The director of a company, that provides plumbing and electrician services, was given an 18-month jail term suspended for four years for failing to pay €60,867 to the VAT department.

Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera heard how Mario Cachia, of Marsascala, was a plumber and electrician as well as the director of Plumelec Limited that was on the brink of bankruptcy.

Police Inspector Maurice Calleja testified that, in 2010, the VAT department informed him that Mr Cachia had misappropriated funds owed to the department. Investigations led to Mr Cachia's arraignment and, during the court case, Mr Cachia said he was aware that he had pending payments.

He said he had not made the payments immediately since he had financial problems and his company was close to bankruptcy. He added that he did not have the money to pay back the money owed.

The magistrate ruled that the charge of misappropriation has been proven since Mr Cachia used funds, that were owed to the department, for a different purpose. She handed down a suspended jail term.