A man who pleaded guilty to his involvement in the alleged bribing of two judges and who will be donating to charity the Lm2,500 he was paid for the part he played, was yesterday sentenced to two years in jail.

This is the first judgement handed down in criminal proceedings in connection with the alleged bribery case involving former Chief Justice Noel Arrigo and former judge Patrick Vella.

Joseph Zammit filed a guilty plea to complicity in the alleged bribery of the two judges after he requested and was granted a separation of justice. He had originally been charged together with Mario Camilleri and his son Pierre Camilleri and Anthony John Grech Sant.

The four were charged with complicity in corrupting the two judges and associating themselves with third parties to commit a crime. The case revolves around an appeals court decision in which a 16-year sentence for drug trafficking, handed down to Mario Camilleri was reduced to 12 years.

Dr Arrigo and Dr Vella have been charged with accepting the bribes. They are pleading not guilty to two counts of bribery and one of revealing official secrets in connection with a judgment handed down by the Court of Criminal Appeal against Mario Camilleri on 5 July 2002.

Magistrate Abigail Lofaro yesterday jailed Zammit for two years, from which the time he spent in preventive custody on this case is to be deducted.

The money he was paid for his involvement will be given to charity – Dar tal-Providenza, the Urseline Crèche, the Eden Foundation, the Park of Friendship and a boy who lost his sight will be getting Lm500 each.

Handing down her judgement, magistrate Lofaro said Zammit cooperated fully with the police.

Police Superintendent Pierre Calleja prosecuted while Dr Chris Soler appeared for the defendant.