Suspended sentence for theft

A 24-year-old man was found guilty of theft after a magistrate did not believe he had bought stolen diving equipment, found at his house, from a fish shop.

Michael Mifsud, of Marsascala, was given a two-year jail term suspended for four years for breaking into two cars and stealing a wet suit, a regulator and other equipment from a garage on and before September 2005.

Magistrate Lawrence Quintano also found him guilty of the illegal possession of bullets.

The court heard that while the police were probing a hold-up in a Marsascala pharmacy they investigated Mr Mifsud.

They found no link with the hold-up, however, during searches at his house, they came across several items reported stolen in three separate thefts. The police also found cartridges and bullets.

The items discovered by the police included diving gear, passports, debit cards and hi-fi equipment. Mr Mifsud said he had found the credit cards in the road and had bought the diving equipment from a shop called Mr Fish.

After evaluating the evidence, the court found Mr Mifsud guilty. It ordered Mr Mifsud to pay the victims for the stolen objects.

Police Inspector Michael Mallia prosecuted.