Two men who engaged unwary passers-by in an illegal game of chance were each fined €500 today and ordered to leave Malta this very evening.

Over the past days, police had been alerted to various instances of illegal betting allegedly taking place on the streets. Reports had even been published on social media. Two culprits, Macedonian national Nita Alamaru, 52, from St Paul's Bay and Romanian national Abedin Latifovski, 46, residing at Buġibba, were arrested in Republic Street, Valletta.

The men were seen producing a carpet, three boxes and a small ball which they used to tempt passers-by to try their luck at a game of chance. Unsuspecting pedestrians, not knowing that playing amounted to illegal betting, would end up falling prey to the tricksters.

Following their arrest in the capital, the two culprits were arraigned over charges of unauthorised betting. 

Both men pleaded guilty before duty magistrate Joseph Mifsud and were each condemned to a fine of €500, to be paid. The court further ordered the men’s immediate deportation from the island.

Inspectors Paula Ciantar and Priscilla Lee Caruana prosecuted.
Lawyers Franco Debono, Amadeus Cachia and Angie Muscat were defence counsel.

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