Hold-up suspect ends behind bars for breaching bail conditions

A 21-year-old man was yesterday jailed for three months after breaching his bail conditions imposed in 2005.

Aaron Cassar, 21, of Kirkop had been granted bail against a personal guarantee of €4,651.16 (Lm2, 000) in February 2005 after he pleaded not guilty to participating in a hold-up.

Testifying, Police Inspector Jeffrey Cilia said Mr Cassar had failed to sign the bail book at the police station as he was ordered to do by the court and on two occasions failed to turn up in court when asked to.

The court, presided over by Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera, referred to Mr Cassar's testimony during which he blamed the medication he was taking for memory loss and subsequently the reason why he had not signed at the police station.

The court felt that this was not a credible alibi and that it was "irresponsible, negligent and challenged the court's authority when he chose not to sign". The court said that judging by Mr Cassar's criminal record, it was evident that it was not the first time he had broken the law.

It added that he had not learnt his lesson even after spending time in prison under preventative arrest.

After taking these aspects into account, the magistrate jailed Mr Cassar for three months and he forfeited a personal guarantee of €4,651.16 (Lm2,000).