Manwel Cutajar, 65 of Gudja, was sentenced to a year’s jail, suspended for two years, on being found guilty of not implementing protection measures for a worker who was working for him and ended falling two storeys.

The accident happened at about 7.40am on 15 April, 2008 in Gudja. Cutajar was also found guilty of failing to safeguard his employees’ health and safety.

Salvatore Aquilina had fallen off a plank set up purposely against the façade of a block of apartments to work on the façade, for which he was being paid about €50 a day, with Cutajar providing the equipment he was to use – the plank and ropes needed.

The accident occurred when the thick rope holding the plank at one end snapped – it came apart in a section which had deteriorated badly, possibly because over time it had been hanging somewhere where it was in contact with humidity.

The evidence showed that the rope had been bought used and was weak, leading to it snapping.

Inspector Arthur Mercieca prosecuted.