Two hunters who had been sentenced to 18 months imprisonment after admitting they had bribed a policeman, have had their sentence converted to a three-year suspended jail term.

The decision was handed down today in the appeals court.

Glen Scicluna, 35, from Marsascala and Roderick Stabile, 29, from Żejtun had been sentenced to jail for giving the policeman supermarket vouchers and a mobile phone in return for advance warning of police raids on illegal hunting sites.

In handing down judgement, the court said it had little sympathy for those who committed a crime because of a warped sense of priorities, as was the case here.

However the court could not ignore the reports of the probation officer which showed that the two had realised their mistake and now had a stable life. They were no longer a threat for society.

The court augured that the hunters had realised that it was not worth jeopardising their future and those of their families just for the short time of pleasure which their hobby gave them. Hunters could practice their hobby as allowed by law and, the court said, it was offering the hunters an opportunity which they should not ignore.

Lawyers Michael and Lucio Schriha and Michael Falzon represented Roderick Stabile and Joe Mifsud represented Glen Scicluna.