Spanish tourist admits stealing shoes

An 18-year-old Spanish girl was this morning conditionally discharged after admitting to stealing a pair of shoes from Bershka in Sliema.

During the hearing, before Magistrate Jacqueline Padovani, the defence argued that the arrest of Angela Gonzalez Zamora was a violation of Article 36 of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations.

Counsel Arthur Azzopardi said that the arrest was unjustified and presented the court with a copy of the Convention which had entered into force on March 19, 1967 and to which Malta is a signatory. He said that when Ms Zamora was arrested, the prosecuting officer should have notified the Spanish Embassy but failed to do so.

Police Inspector Anna Marie Micallef told the court that at first Ms Zamora denied taking the shoes but later admitted to the theft. Inspector Micallef added that she granted Ms Zamora police bail and only held her for two hours during the course of the investigations.

Magistrate Padovani said Article 36 of the Convention did not directly impinge on the validity of the arrest and the arrest was valid.

After taking into consideration the fact that Ms Zamora was a first time offender in Malta as well as Spain Magistrate Padovani conditionally discharged Ms Zamora for one month.