Two Mellieha farmers today were found guilty of defrauding the governed after passing on imported tomatoes as local produce at the Pitkalija and illegally claiming state aid subsidies. They were handed suspended sentences.

The men are Joseph Attard, 45, and Joseph Manuel Galea, 46, both from Mellieha. Mr Galea was also charged with relapsing but was cleared of the charge on lack of proof.

The court heard how the two men imported some seven tonnes of tomatoes from Sicily in 2003. Around two tonnes were taken to the farmer’s market and passed on as locally produced tomatoes. Officials realised, however, that the tomatoes were imported because the local product was still unripe. In fact, the tomatoes that were being grown in their greenhouses were still green and were also of a different type.

An agricultural expert testified that some tomatoes had been “artificially placed” in one of the greenhouses to make it look like the structure was full of the crop.

One of the accused, Joseph Galea, told the court he worked as a technical officer at the abattoir and a part-time farmer. He said that Mr Attard used his garage to store the tomatoes but denied that he had anything to do with the crop.

Full-time farmer Joseph Attard said he and Mr Galea had brought the tomatoes over from Sicily aboard the catamaran in four trips. The tomatoes were stored in Mr Galea’s garage. He claimed that he had sold most of the crop on the street and he did not hand out any receipts. Mr Attard claimed that the tomatoes he had taken to the Pitkalija had been grown locally in his greenhouses. He denied trying to claim subsidies on a product that was not eligible for state aid.

An agriculture ministry official said that the state used to pay subsidies pre-accession. The rate in 2003 was LM0.0151 per kilo. While they could confirm that subsidies were paid out to Mr Attard and Mr Galea, officials could not calculate the amount.

The court, presided by Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera, said the accused had failed to prove that the tomatoes found at the Pitkalija were produced locally. They had also failed to prove their alibi that the imported tomatoes had been sold on the street. She found them guilty of defrauding the government and sentenced them to 12 months in prison suspended for three years.

Inspectors Kevin Farrugia and Ian Abdilla prosecuted.