Spanish students get suspended jail term

Spanish nationals Pablo Garnica 22, Raul Sanchez 23 and Victor Peralta 22, were handed a four-year suspended sentence and ordered to pay €2,890 for damages they cause in a Paceville club.

Earlier this week the three men were asked to leave Bar Native in Paceville because of their attitude and behavior. However when the bar closed they returned on site and vandalised the bar's outdoor furniture, broke windows and damaged other items. They were apprehended by the police soon after.

The accused admitted to charges of willful damage, breaching the peace and being drunk in public.

Magistrate Edwina Grima remanded the men in custody and ordered them to pay the damages by Monday. Towards the end of the sitting, a friend of the Spanish students arrived in court and paid €1,200 on their behalf. Subsequently the court turned its decision and changed the sentence to a two-year jail term suspended for four years.

Magistrate Grima also ordered them to pay the rest of the damages by tonight (Friday) and seized their identification documents until payment is made.

The three Spanish students were in Malta to study English.

Inspector Trevor Micallef prosecuted while lawyer Dorianne Vella appeared for the Spaniards.