Updated 10.20am with further details
A man has been sentenced to two years in jail and fined €1,600 after admitting sending anonymous hate mail to several public figures.
Joseph Mary Borg, 71, of Valletta, admitted writing a stream of anonymous letters, threatening and insulting various politicians and public figures.
In the first case, Repubblika president Robert Aquilina, former MP Jason Azzopardi and his partner, as well as PN MPs Karol Aquilina, Beppe Fenech Adami and Ryan Callus were all targeted by the handwritten letters which landed in their home mailbox or were delivered to them in parliament.
Professor of surgery and opinion writer Kevin Cassar was also targeted.
Other public figures later stepped forward to report that they too had received similar letters.
They included former Opposition leader Simon Busuttil and his partner Kristina Chetcuti, Repubblika vice president Alessandra Dee Crespo and professor Vicki Ann Cremona, an activist within the NGO.
Each of the texts was penned in ink in scrawling handwriting.
The case had been put off for the parties to make final submissions.
The sentence was delivered by Magistrate Astrid May Grima as Borg sat at the dock, a solitary figure leaning on a crutch, head bent most of the time.
When meting out punishment the court took into account Borg’s admission and his apology to his victims.
The court also took note of a pre-sentencing report.
A protection order for five years was issued in respect of the victims, and Borg was also bound under a personal guarantee of €2,000 effective for one year.
He was also to pay court expert expenses amounting to €254.
The court ordered notification of the judgments to the Police Commissioner and the Attorney General.
The defence gave notice of appeal.
Finally, Magistrate Grima recommended that the prisons’ director detain Borg at the forensic unit and provide him with all necessary medical, psychological and psychiatric help.
Inspectors Kevin Pulis and Ryan Farrugia prosecuted. Lawyers Henry Antoncich and Joseph Calleja were defence counsel. Lawyer Therese Comodini Cachia appeared parte civile.