Two foreigners who scammed bank machines across the island while pretending to be on holiday in Bermuda have each been jailed for a year.

Romanian Tiberiu Gavrila, 45, and 32-year-old Briton, Radu Asavei, both admitted to conspiracy to remove stolen money from the island in 2019.

They also pleaded guilty to stealing from HSBC, Bermuda's largest bank, and possession of false credit cards between January 20 and 30 of last year.

'The increasing prevalence of offences of this nature undermines the financial integrity of this island,' said Magistrate Craig Attridge in handing down the sentence on Friday.

Attridge said they had both admitted the offences and had clean records in Bermuda, but said bank fraud increased the cost of business on the island and 'makes victims of us all'.

A 53-year-old Bermudian, Eldon Robinson, was also charged with conspiracy and will stand trial in April.

Gavrila, who has been in jail since May 16, will return to court on April 9, charged with the theft of US$2,525 from Clarien Bank while on bail between April 27 and 29 and an attempt to steal a further US$15,985.

The prosecution said said US$1,450 could be proved to have been stolen in a string of offences, committed using fake cards from France, Sweden, Germany and the United States.

At least 15 fake cards were used to withdraw money from HSBC cash machines around the island and the total they attempted to steal was $4,340.

© Pakistan Press International, source Asianet-Pakistan