Man linked to stolen vehicle ring gets suspended sentence

A man charged in connection with an organised crime ring trafficking stolen vehicles has been handed a two-year prison sentence suspended for four years.

Ahmed Ab’a Khabiza, 37, Libya, was found guilty of stealing vehicles between November and December 2025 at the Virtu Ferries terminal in Marsa.

The case ties back to December 2025, when he was charged after customs officials flagged irregularities in a vehicle he brought into Malta. Investigators had then linked him to a wider network trafficking high-value stolen vehicles between Europe and North Africa, with cars imported using falsified documentation before being shipped onwards.

Police had also testified that Khabiza had made repeated trips to Malta transporting vehicles later confirmed to have been stolen from countries including Italy and Spain.

In the latest proceedings, the court heard that the offences involved three vehicles, a Lexus, an MG and a Toyota Land Cruiser.

Khabiza admitted to the charge in April, with the court warning him of the consequences before accepting his plea.

Taking into account the admission and the parties’ agreement that a custodial sentence was not appropriate, the court sentenced him to two years’ imprisonment, suspended for four years.

The court also ordered the release of the vehicles to their rightful third-party owners and directed that the judgment be notified to the Principal Immigration Officer for any necessary action.

The accused was represented by defence lawyers Franco Debono and Adreana Zammit. Police Inspector Shawn Pawney prosecuted. Magistrate Astrid May Grima handed down the judgment.