Former Judge Patrick Vella was yesterday jailed for two years after he pleaded guilty to accepting bribes to reduce the jail term of a drug trafficker on appeal.

After filing the guilty plea - in a tense courtroom filled with relatives, lawyers and police officers - Dr Vella's defence counsel read out a public apology on his behalf.

"He apologises, without any conditions, to Maltese society in general for his actions and declares that he is sorry for the damage he caused to the same society," the statement read.

Dr Vella, 63, of San Pawl Tat-Targa, pleaded guilty at what was to be the beginning of his trial by the Bench.

He had been arraigned in August 2002 together with former Chief Justice Noel Arrigo and both were charged with accepting bribes, trading in influence and revealing official secrets in connection with a judgment handed down by the Court of Criminal Appeal, which they both presided over, against drug trafficker Mario Camilleri.

Dr Vella yesterday confessed to reducing a 16-year jail term meted out to Mr Camilleri to 12 years in exchange for Lm10,000. He went to collect the bribe soon after the judgment was handed.

Mr Justice Giannino Caruana Demajo, presiding over the trial, then heard submissions on punishment. He also heard several witnesses testify that Dr Vella had suffered and repented for his actions and that he suffered from anxiety that mainly stemmed from the fear for his safety if he was jailed with inmates he himself had imprisoned as a judge.

Mr Justice Caruana Demajo noted that, although he believed Dr Vella was truly sorry, an effective two-year jail term was appropriate in this case, adding that the jail term would help Dr Vella himself realise he had redeemed himself.