Thief learns he may run but he cannot escape

A Valletta man, who escaped from Malta 22 years ago after he was charged with robbing a man, was yesterday jailed for three years.

On handing down judgement, Magistrate Silvio Meli noted that Mario Calleja, 47, of Valletta had savagely assaulted the man, who suffered from a disability, and had escaped from Malta in 1983.

Mr Calleja had been charged, together with Raymond Magri, also 47, with robbing Joseph Seychell of Lm515 in cash and a necklace and bracelet worth about Lm150.

The two men were also charged with slightly injuring Mr Seychell, who had a difficulty walking, stealing a shotgun, being in possession of the gun at the time of the crime and relapsing.

Magistrate Meli heard how on September 25, 1981, Mr Seychell had just left his brother's shop when he was assaulted and beaten by two men. One of the men had a gun and the other, who was identified as Mr Calleja by the tattoo of a fly on his forehead, snatched his jewellery. The men also took an envelope containing money. The magistrate noted that in March 1985 a decision had been handed down in the case against Mr Magri but no decision was given regarding Mr Calleja as he had absconded in 1983. Then, in January this year, police informed the court that Mr Calleja was back in Malta and under arrest.

After evaluating the evidence and the circumstances of the case, Magistrate Meli noted that the crime involved the savage aggression of a person with a disability and also that Mr Calleja had escaped from the island.

Police Inspector Carmelo Magri prosecuted.