A Qormi man was cleared of misappropriating Lm130,000 on the grounds that insufficient evidence was produced for him to be convicted.

David Ellul, 56, had been accused of misappropriating Lm130,000 on 18 March 2000 that had been entrusted to him by Maria Assunta Pizzuto, Joyce Taylor, Carmen Mifsud and Emanuel Pizzuto.

The prosecution had alleged that Mr Ellul’s mother had given him this money to keep. The court however noted that there was no proof that this cash ever existed and that it was given to Mr Ellul.

Presiding magistrate Anthony Vella said it was difficult to believe that the man’s mother hand trusted him with such a large sum of money which she subsequently failed to mention in her will.

Therefore, the magistrate ruled insufficient evidence had been produced to find the man guilty and ordered him to be acquitted of all charges.

Inspector Edel Mary Camilleri prosecuted, while Dr Chris Cardona appeared for Mr Ellul.