A man was this afternoon sentenced to a nine-month jail term suspended for two years and fined €2,600 after he pleaded guilty to smuggling 645 protected birds into Malta from Sicily last month.

Aaron Micallef, 35, from Qrendi, pleaded guilty to smuggling the birds in his Citroen Xsara on October 24. The court heard he had 326 Hawfinches, one Greenfinch, 46 Goldfinches, 164 Linnets and 108 Serins.

The total value of the birds was of almost €32,000.

Before Magistrate Antonio Vella, Mr Micallef pleaded guilty to the charges brought against him.

The court heard that Mr Micallef was found in possession of the protected birds on his arrival from Sicily on board the Virtu Ferries' Jean de la Vallette catamaran on October 24 at around 11pm. The police and customs officers swooped in following a tip-off.

He was sentenced to nine months suspended for two years and fined €2,000 for smuggling the birds and a further fine of €600 for Value Added Tax evasion. Moreover, the court ordered the confiscation of the birds and the car used to smuggle them as well as the suspension of his driving licence for two years.

Police Inspector Jurgen Vella prosecuted while lawyers Marion Camilleri and Angie Muscat appeared for the man.

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