A Paola man was acquitted yesterday of handling stolen property after he had unknowingly purchased a stolen mobile phone from a tattoo parlour in 2003.

The court, presided over by Magistrate Audrey Demicoli, heard that, while at a tattoo parlour in Paola, Isaac Wood, 31, had been approached by Jason Gatt who offered to sell him a mobile phone. Mr Gatt had told Mr Wood the phone was his and had actually removed the Sim card to prove it really belonged to him. It eventually resulted, however, that Mr Gatt had stolen the phone from Sound Machine, situated in Paola Square, and then went to the tattoo parlour where Mr Gatt bought it.

The court heard Police Sergeant Mario Spiteri testify that Mr Gatt had asked Mr Wood for a €116.50 (Lm50) deposit until the charger and the box were given to him. This was done to prove that the phone had actually belonged to Mr Gatt, according to Mr Wood.

Before handing down judgment, Magistrate Demicoli took into consideration the fact that Mr Wood's evidence had remained consistent and that a policeman had corroborated his version of events. He was subsequently acquitted of all charges.

Police Inspector Jesmond Borg prosecuted.

Lawyer Kriss Busietta was defence counsel.