The three were also convicted for owning the house where these crimes were committed.

When passing judgement the court considered the accused’s early guilty plea, their complete cooperation with the police, their young age and their clean records.

Presiding magistrate Anthony Vella warned the three young people that the crimes they admitted carried a two to nine-year jail term. He told them to get a job and not to fall into the criminal life at such a young age.

The exploitation of people to make money is a villainous crime and this could have had disastrous consequences, he said.

Inspectors Raymond Aquilina and inspector Alfred Mallia prosecuted.