Two men were jailed for three months yesterday, suspended for a year, and fined Lm200 each after pleading guilty to manufacturing fireworks in unlicensed fireworks factories.

Victor Ellul, 46, from Zurrieq and 62-year-old Carmel Grima from Fgura, pleaded guilty to manufacturing fireworks in an unlicensed factory. Both of them are, however, licensed to manufacture fireworks.

Magistrate Doreen Clarke warned them that this was the last time they would be given a chance, because they had already been charged with similar offences before.

The men were charged separately. Ellul was accused of manufacturing fireworks in Siggiewi on 8 August and Grima was accused of manufacturing fireworks in a farmhouse in Birzebbuga on 9 August and the preceding months.

Police Inspector Geoffrey Azzopardi, Jesmond Borg and Johann Fenech prosecuted while Dr Owen Bonnici appeared for the accused.