MALTA -- An 18-year-old student from Varese has been sentenced and fined as much as 15,000 euros after vandalising an ancient Ġgantija monument, according to Heritage Malta, an agency focused on the cultural heritage of Maltese archaeological sites. 

The student was caught by a security guard while engraving two letters ("B+L") into one of the structures at the Ġgantija Archaeological Park on the island of Gozo. The park holds prehistoric Neolithic temples, built between 3600 and 3200 BC. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1980. 

Following police involvement, an "urgent session" was held in court where the student admitted to the charges of vandalism. He was handed a sentence of two years and a suspension for four, along with a 15,000 euro fine from the Court of Gozo. 

Heritage Malta released a statement after the incident, condemning the "irreparable damage" done to the monument. The agency also expressed their "satisfaction at the timely intervention of the security officer," following their recent work to enhance the security of museums and archaeological sites. 

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