Toy Museum theft lands man behind bars

A man was yesterday jailed for two-and-a-half years for stealing a box containing Lm113 from the Toy Museum, in Valletta.

Magistrate Abigail Lofaro found Brian Mallia guilty of stealing the money on July 18, 2002, breaching several previous court judgments and relapsing.

The magistrate heard how on the day of the incident Antonia Grioli was working at the museum when the accused walked in with another man and told her that they were Russian.

The two men paid the entrance fee in euros, walked into the museum and on their way out Mallia's friend wheeled a push chair towards the door.

Grioli told him that the things at the museum were not for sale and showed him where to go if he wanted to buy toys.

Grioli went on to explain how she noticed Mallia open a drawer. He called to his friend and the two men ran out.

She said that although she did not see Mallia take anything from the drawer, the box containing Lm113 had gone missing.

On handing down judgment Magistrate Lofaro noted that Mallia's criminal record was five pages long and a jail term was appropriate.

Police Inspector Ramon Mercieca prosecuted.