Two years’ jail for using fake banknotes

A man accused of circulating false €50 notes wept silently as a court sentenced him to two years in jail this afternoon.

Refugee Nnemeka Henry Ajuonuma, who lives in Hal Far tent centre and works as a galvanizer was arrested in Paceville during the early hours of Sunday morning, after trying to pay his bar tab with counterfeit notes.

A search on his person found him to be in possession of a total of 11 fake €50 notes, Inspector Shaun Friggieri told Magistrate Ian Farrugia.

Friggieri, together with Inspector Leeroy Balzan Engerer charged the man with fraud and maliciously placing false banknotes into circulation.

Ajuonuma had released a written statement to police, saying that he was sorry for the wrong he had consciously done. He also gave the authorities the name of the person who allegedly gave him the fake money for free: “Jones from Italy.”

In court, the police said the information was unlikely to speed up investigations.

Ajuonuma pleaded guilty to the charges, wiping away a tear as he did so.

Legal aid lawyer Martin Fenech told the court that the man had admitted and cooperated with the police, and that the amounts of money involved were minimal. He may not have known the banknotes were counterfeit, the lawyer said.

The magistrate observed that the minimum sentence he could give in the circumstances was two years imprisonment. “My hands are tied,” said the magistrate as he read out the sentence.