Joseph Azzopardi, 39 of Cospicua, was today handed a 10-month jail term suspended for three years after being convicted of lending money at a higher interest rate than allowed by law.

He was also fined €1,200.

The case happened in 2006 when Mr Azzopardi lent Lm4,000 to Glen Debattista. Interest was charged at 20 per cent. He later also lent him another Lm4,000. Within months, Mr Azzopardi was demanding Lm11,000 in return

The court was told that at a result of the high interest rates, the amount due had in three years risen to Lm11,000.

Mr Azzopardi was found not guilty of threatening Mr Debattista.

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