It cost the owner of an entertainment establishment dearly to have allowed under-age students into the place: Glen Ciantar, of Attard, was fined over €2,000 by Magistrate Ian Farrugia for his transgression.

Seven students from St Albert College in Valletta, all aged under 17, were allowed into Chequers last 22 June. It cost Ciantar €233 for each student, apart from a €500 fine.

The students were with their teachers. They had attended a graduation ceremony at the Corinthia and went out with their teachers for a soft drink, but ended going into Chequers. One of the students told Magistrate Farrugia the bouncers had not asked for their ID card or details about their age.

And a 16-year-old student said she was at Bay Street with friends and at around midnight her mother telephoned her to tell her she was waiting for her near Chequers. She went there but could not see her mother.

She went into the establishment instead, and when she came out she found the police, who asked for her details.

The court said everything seemed to have been lax that day at the Chequers, with even an underage girl being allowed in by the bouncers, and the students not have been asked for their ID cards.

Dr Joseph Giglio was defence counsel, Inspector Trevor Micallef prosecuted.