Fraudster rented cars to export them to Libya

A 26-year-old German from Munich, Julian Buhr, was handed a two-year jail sentence, suspended for four years, after pleading guilty to misappropriation and fraud.

Buhr, who lives at Pender Place in St Julian's was accused of renting two Mercedes C-Class vehicles from Dieter Speiser, in Germany, which were driven to Malta before being sold on to Libyan national Faisal Wadi for €28,000.

Police have recovered one car while another one was already exported to Libya.

Defence lawyer Joe Giglio said the car exported to Libya was claimed by the owner of being in excess of €40,000 and in need of repairs. Buhr agreed to pay the cost of the first car and €10,000 in repairs for the second car, as well as pay back Wadi the sum of €10,000.

Magistrate Audrey Demicoli handed the accused a two-year jail term suspended for four years, and ordered that he pay the €60,000 owed to his victims within the next six months under pain of being in breach of the suspended sentence.

Inspector Arthur Mercieca prosecuted, while lawyer Joe Giglio appeared for the accused.