Man acquitted of unlawful use of phone line

Steven Satariano, 36 of St Julians, was today acquitted of having used a neighbour's phone lines, thus stealing phone pulses.

The court heard that in January last year Maltacom (now GO) reported that phone calls had been made on a phone line assigned to Victor Cavallo, which he was insisting he had not made. The calls covered the period December 2006 to January 2007.

The court found that it was not Mr Satariano who had installed the phone line in his apartment. Once he started using the apartment he contacted Maltacom to ask about the phone line but after he got no reply, he started using it. Once he was presented a bill, he settled it immediately.

The court said it was satisfied that Mr Satariano had not tried to deceive or profit from the situation.