A man was conditionally discharged for six months after he was found guilty of misappropriating Lm900 to the detriment of Cassar and Cooper.

The court how Noel Scicluna, 50, from Floriana, was a travel agent and was responsible for the purchase of airline tickets on behalf of the Floriana Football Club. It heard how in 1992, Scicluna bought Lm900 worth of tickets from Cassar and Cooper but, although he collected the money from the football club, he did not pay Cassar and Cooper the amount it was due.

Magistrate Michael Mallia heard how Scicluna left Malta and remained abroad for quite some time. In the meantime, Cassar and Cooper collected the money it was owned from the football club.

Cassar and Cooper’s lawyer wrote to the police to inform them that the matter was the result of some misunderstanding between the football club and Scicluna and that the amount had been collected. The company also requested that the case be withdrawn.

However, the police proceeded with the case since it believed that there was enough evidence to prove that Scicluna knew what he was doing when he collected the Lm900 and did not use them to pay the outstanding balance with Cassar and Cooper.

Handing down his judgement, Magistrate Mallia said this amounted to misappropriation. He noted that since Cassar and Cooper admitted that the matter was a result of a misunderstanding, the court did not believe that a heavy punishment was appropriate. He therefore conditionally discharged the accused for six months.

Police inspector Angelo Gafa prosecuted.