A former notary has successfully appealed a two-year prison term and a lifetime interdiction for allegedly meddling with figures on a public contract which meant that his clients’ credit was not adequately guaranteed. Pierre Falzon, the 61-year old notary who voluntarily renounced his warrant in 2012, had been found guilty of making a false declaration on a constitution of debt contract and registering the ensuing hypothec for a lesser amount. The case dates to October 2007 when Falzon drew up a promise of sale agreement over the purchase of one-half undivided share of two properties at Swieqi and Cospicua for Lm38,000 (€88,500). The Cassar spouses, as purchasers, subsequently renounced the Cospicua property but did not claim back part of the deposit money, choosing instead to place it on account of the Lm19,500 (€45,500) purchase price due on the final deed. Once their notary had assured them that relative searches were in order, the couple began to hand out money to the seller - a building contractor - to cover expenses in finishing the Swieqi property that consisted of a maisonette and garage. The purchasers ended up paying the full purchase price agreed upon on the...
