A man was jailed for six months yesterday, suspended for two years, after he pleaded guilty to defrauding Bank of Valletta of more than Lm1,640.

Walter Baldacchino, 30, from Valletta, admitted defrauding the bank in April 2005. Handing down her judgement, magistrate Doreen Clarke said she had taken into consideration the fact that the accused had not really cooperated with the police, because it was only in his second statement that he admitted his involvement. She also took into consideration the fact that none of the money in question had been returned.

She therefore jailed the defendant for six months, suspended for two years, and ordered him to repay the Lm1,640.36 he had defrauded.

Police Inspector Maurice Curmi prosecuted and Dr Jose Herrera and Dr Veronique Dalli appeared for Baldacchino.