Magistrate raps couple over theft

Two Italians were conditionally discharged and rapped by Magistrate Jacqueline Padovani today after they admitted stealing a pouch containing €28 at Malta International Airport.

The accused were Carlo Boschi, 55, and 57-year-old teacher Rita Rizzi, both of Rome.

Inspector Jason Agius told the court that the incident happened yesterday week as the couple were going through the X-ray procedure at the airport. They had been filmed on closed circuit television taking the pouch.

When airport officials confronted Mr Boschi, he initially denied taking anything, but when he was warned that the police would be called in, he took them to the restroom and showed them where he had thrown away the pouch after taking €28 which were inside.

Magistrate Padovani told the couple that their crime could have landed them in jail and criminal records were easily accessible throughout the EU, and they had therefore been playing with their livelihood.

Had the two been 16-year-olds she could have tried to understand their actions, but these were mature people who were meant to set an example to younger people.

She conditionally discharged them for six months.