Teenagers stole cash from hotel room

Two Sicilian teenagers who stole €1,300 after eying the wad of cash sitting on a desk through the open door of a hotel room were conditionally discharged for three years.

Magistrate Anthony Vella told the accused they were facing up to three years in prison and would have left Malta when they would have been 21 years old.

Giuseppe Gelsomino, 18, and his 17-year-old friend, who cannot be named because he is a minor, were walking back to their room in St George's Park Hotel in St Julians when they noticed the open door of another room.

On peering inside, they noticed cash sitting on a desk inside the room and helped themselves to the money that belonged to Mohamed Alami and Belghiti Mohammed.

Police Inspector Bernard Spiteri said they had fully cooperated with the police and had given the money back as soon as they took it.

After taking into consideration their early admission and the fact they had returned the money to the rightful owners, the court conditionally discharged them for three years.

Lawyer Joseph Giglio appeared for Mr Gelsomino.

Lawyer Anthony Cutajar appeared for the minor.