London-based chef admits to inadvertently circulating false currency

A man visiting family in Malta found himself in hot water when he used fake banknotes in good faith, after they were given to him by a travel companion

The offence strangely does not require the offender to be aware of the fact that he or she is circulating false currency
The offence strangely does not require the offender to be aware of the fact that he or she is circulating false currency

A chef from the UK, visiting family in Malta, will be leaving the islands with an unpleasant taste in his mouth after unfamiliarity with Euro banknotes landed him in trouble with the law.

Magistrate Audrey Demicoli heard how London-based chef Terence Saliba had been reported to the police when he had attempted to use Euro banknotes that he had been given by someone else.

Saliba, 23, pleaded guilty to a single charge of inadvertently circulating false currency.

The offence, which was only introduced into the Maltese Criminal Code last year, strangely does not require the offender to be aware of the fact that he or she is circulating false currency, any lack of awareness serving only to mitigate punishment.

Defence lawyer Edward Gatt explained to the court that the accused worked as a chef in London and had come to Malta to visit his father. A travel companion, who had returned to the UK before him, had given Saliba the fake banknotes, which had been used in good faith, he said.

Police inspector Nikolai Sant, who prosecuted together with inspector Matthew Vella, confirmed that the accused had cooperated fully and had apologised for the offence. Saliba had claimed not to have been aware that the banknotes were fake, the officer reported and had told officers that had he known they were fake, he would not have used them.

The court conditionally discharged the man for three years. The banknotes were passed on to the Central Bank for analysis, after which they will be destroyed.