Suspended sentence for twins who abused love-struck man’s generosity

Twin sisters Daphne and Gigliola Farrugia were given a suspended sentence after being convicted of defrauding a man by making him fall in love with them.

The case dates back to December 2007 when victim Felix Falzon, 36, met the twins, who were at the time minors. Having paid for their drinks during a first encounter, the three started meeting regularly, and soon enough the minors were asking him for money to supporter their lifestyle.

Daphne Farrugia was said to have spent his money on hair and beauty products, fashion accessories, and even asked him to buy her a car.

In January 2008, she left Malta for Italy, where she continued communicating with Falzon. Upon returning, the twins started asking Falzon for money again.

In her testimony, Farrugia told the court that she had no romantic interest in Falzon and that he she had left for Italy in a bid to stop these encounters. Even when she met him again after her return, it was always in the presence of her sister.

She denied asking Falzon for money, and that it was Falzon who would offer drinks, dinners and also prepaid phone cards.

Her sister Gigliola told the court that the money Falzon gave her had been unsolicited. But the prosecution produced phone records proving the twins declaring their love to Falzon and also demanding money. The twins were accused of defrauding the man over €8,467 in cash gifts.

The defence argued that there was not enough evidence for a fraud case and that nothing stopped men from showering people they're interested in with gifts.

Magistrate Marseann Farrugia had harsh words for the twins, stating that they had abused their victim's interest and exploited the situation. 

Noting that the accused were minors at the time of the incident, and the fact that they have a clean police record, the court handed the twins a two-year jail term suspended for four years. The magistrate also ordered the girls to refund their victim's cash within six months.