Conditional discharge

Two brothers were yesterday conditionally discharged for a year for stealing sacks of gypsum and construction membrane from a hotel construction site.

Joseph Coleiro, 45, and his 41-year-old brother Silvio were found guilty of stealing the material from the Radisson SAS Golden Sands in Ghajn Tuffieha in October 2005.

Silvio Coleiro was cleared of trying to seriously injure a security officer at the hotel by driving a car in his direction.

Magistrate Giovanni Grixti noted that the security officer said he had jumped into the middle of the road to stop Mr Coleiro who kept driving. However, Mr Coleiro said he did not intend hurting anyone but had been startled when the security officer suddenly appeared in front of him.

Given the conflicting versions, the magistrate cleared Mr Coleiro of the charge.

Police Inspector Carmelo Magri prosecuted.

Lawyer Franco Debono appeared for the Coleiros.