Busted by his fingerprints

A 49-year-old whose fingerprints were found on car from which a briefcase was stolen has been jailed for 14 months.

Joseph Zammit claimed he had leaned against the car the day before it was broken into when he went to pick up his daughter from Ġzira, where the car was parked.

Francis Stivala, the owner of the Renault Megane, said that when he went back to his car he found the quarter window broken and his briefcase missing. Mr Stivala said the items in the briefcase were worth between €50 and €70.

When questioned by the police and even when testifying, the accused denied involvement in the theft and explained that his finger prints on the car were there because he had leaned on the vehicle the day before when he went to pick up his daughter.

However, Magistrate Doreen Clarke did not believe this version and jailed him for 14 months after taking into consideration the fact that he had also relapsed.

Police Inspector Anthony Portelli prosecuted.