Taxi driver accused of robbing client
A taxi driver this morning pleaded not guilty to have stolen cash and a mobile phone from a client at the airport.
Stephen Galea, 31 of Qormi was accused of stealing €700 in cash and a mobile phone from Marcelle D'Argi-Smith.
Ms D'Argi-Smith said that she had walked out of the airport with the driver. She placed her luggage near the car and walked a short distance to put the trolley back in its place. By the time she returned, her luggage had already been placed in the taxi. She realised that her wallet and mobile phone had been stolen when she got to her residence (in Malta) some time later.
Police Inspector Jason Agius told Magistrate Silvio Meli that CCTV footage clearly showed that the accused had 'manoeuvred' around her handbag before placing it in the luggage.
Mr Galea was granted bail against a personal guarantee of €3,000.
8 Comments
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Douglas Bagnall
May 7th 2009, 22:01
The LAST time we visited your lovely country it happened to us, robbed that is, quoted by taxi driver who demanded more we we arrived at the airport, paid up and left you, now winter in Majorca both this and your so called English Language schools in Sliema was the final cut.
Doug
England
Daphne Caruana Galizia
May 7th 2009, 21:48
I suppose it's worth pointing out that Marcelle D'Argy Smith is the former long-time editor of Cosmopolitan magazine. Everyone who read Cosmo in the 1980s and 1990s will know exactly who she is.
J.Bonnici
May 7th 2009, 18:25
Will his licence be revoked if found guilty?
Kevin Zammit
May 7th 2009, 18:13
@David Mifsud
can you please refrain from insulting the famouse flagship of the order of St. John by associating it with white taxis?
I too travel a lot and would be more convenient for me to use the taxis especially late at night, but I prefer to inconvenience others rather than have to deal with these people, leave alone trust them with the tourists that we all depend on as a major income for the country.
r ferriggi
May 7th 2009, 15:59
LET US CLEAN UP ON SUCH ,,,, what can we call them?!?
suggestion : submit the people who are in direct contact with the tourists to YEARLY or two yearly tests for , customer care, DECENCY, dress code etc.
and weed out the rubbish and thugs.
David Mifsud
May 7th 2009, 14:41
Taxi drivers are often the first Maltese service provider (after possibly an airline and an airport) that visitors face.
Do ADT and the Tourism authorities vet such individuals/companies and their vehicles to ensure that they have the right vehicle (safety issue), driving record (safety once again), PR training (service with a smile?) and integrity (overcharging is theft too. Perhaps not as in-your-face as what this man is accused of doing but theft nonetheless!).
My personal experience of all white taxis I have ever used is negative on each one of the above counts.
I just plain stopped using such taxis some time ago after the umpteenth encounter with a rude, overcharging and overspeeding taxi driver in an obsolete karakka!
Criss Camilleri
May 7th 2009, 14:35
What a splendid welcome to Malta!. She will certainly give us all the advertising we need to attract others to come here on holiday! If he is found guilty, he is to be ashamed!
Franco Farrugia
May 7th 2009, 14:14
'CCTV footage clearly showed that the accused had 'manoeuvred' around her handbag before placing it in the luggage.'
vs
'pleaded not guilty'.
Wonders never cease!!!!