‘Tristan B’ jailed for another nine years

Another nine years have been added to Emanuel Balzan's list of convictions for fraud, after admitting to defrauding Gozitan farmer Joseph Sultana of Xaghra out of €750,000, ruining him in the process.

Balzan - also known as 'Tristan B' - had admitted to the charges brought against him by Inspector Ian Abdilla from the Economic Crimes Unit, leading Magistrate Anthony Vella to hand him a nine year jail term.

The accused lowered his head and seemed to be breathless at the time his judgment was handed, but walked to the courts registrar to file an appeal.

During investigations, it transpired that Emanuel Balzan had approached the farmer telling him that he had access to European Union funds to modernise his cattle breeding farm.

Balzan allegedly told the farmer that for every €1,000 he invested with him, he would bring him €10,000 from the EU. Over a matter of weeks, Balzan took a total of €750,000 from Sultana, who never saw a cent back.

The fraud cost the farmer his entire business, with banks calling in on all his loans. Sultana had to sell off his home, his farm, the livestock and machinery.

Sultana was present in the court room this afternoon as Magistrate Anthony Vella handed the judgment, and dashed out soon after, accompanied by his lawyer Arthur Azzopardi.  

Lawyer Cedric Mifsud appeared for Emanuel Balzan as legal aid.

While Balzan awaits other judgments on a series of other fraud cases, he has been convicted twice to three and a half year jail terms, and nine months respectively all for fraud.