Boy, 15, accused of €1,200 theft
A 15-year-old boy was taken to court under arrest today and accused of stealing €1,200 in a bag snatching case last Monday evening at Beltissebh, Floriana.
The boy is alleged to have assaulted 45-year-old Maria Grazzia Cucciardi and run off with two bags which contained the cash. The case took took place at about 7 p.m.
The woman, who was not injured, gave a detailed description of her assailant, and the boy was allegedly given away by a friend, police sources said.
Court officials said he had been arraigned under arrest because of the seriousness of the charge.
During court arguments on bail, Police Inspector Pierre Micallef Grimaud said the boy had not cooperated at all with the police, to the point of arrogance. He objected to the granting of bail, saying he could imagine him roaming the streets of Valletta at a time when people were doing their Christmas shopping.
The defence insisted on bail, saying the boy had no police record and his arrest was traumatic enough.
Bail was granted by the court against a personal guarantee of €3,000.
9 Comments
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Bill Khan
Dec 17th 2009, 15:00
@L.zammit, We live in a selfish capitalist society where an individula's wants have become his needs. We are beyond our daily needs of food and shelter. Today not only the youngsters want more and more of every thing and instantly. The desire must be fullfilled immediately or else. The selfish capitalism never ceases to bombard us with advertisements evry minute of our lives to keep us addicted to 'want'. Is it any wonder we will do any thing to keep the 'want' satisfied to get a feeling of as a the usual statement is 'To feel alive'.
The youngsters are just trapped on the treadmill of want and desire like the rest of us.
No amount of penalty, punishment will get them off this particular drug. We just have to live with it.
victor borg
Dec 16th 2009, 18:07
sorry ihave no time for these youngsters my wife was dragged to the ground to steal her
handbag she finished with her back and side all scratched and bruised she was then 70
years old this happened near mackdonalds in bkara at 3 45 in the afternoon it took
quite some time before she could go out again by herself
Paul Barrett
Dec 16th 2009, 17:53
The most worrying part of this article is the statement:
"Police Inspector Pierre Micallef Grimaud said the boy had not cooperated at all with the police, to the point of arrogance".
At 15 years of age this child has already picked up that there is no fear of authority, nothing to loose by committing a crime which probably in the eyes of his contemporaries, makes him stand out as untouchable, the big man.
Perhaps if he were made to walk up and down Republic Street all day every day from now until the the New Year (or 14 none-school) days with a sign around his neck saying "I am an idiot and a thief"; then perhaps he might feel a little less cocky.
Unfortunately, instead of coming down hard on crimes of this nature, which are far too fashionable, the punishments are negligible. Maybe when he has knocked up his 20th or so offence, he might actually get a suspended sentence to really teach him a lesson,, upon conviction.
GiovDeMartino
Dec 16th 2009, 17:34
If guilty, let him off with a ...WARNING and the same bloggers below will feel scandaliised and will certainly shout: ONLY IN MALTA or something similar.
Michael Muscat
Dec 16th 2009, 14:02
yeah....great idea! lets all gather and pray so that things like this will not happen! at the same time let's pray for all crimes to be eradicated, all disease to disappear and all poverty to stop... like we've been doing for the past 2009 years. Your idealism is inspiring... or is it ?
JCMicallef
Dec 16th 2009, 13:54
@LZammit - your comemnt may be understood in the context that this young man may be living a desparate life and has to steal in order to be able to live.
But Society cannot find that justifiable. What elso would you have wanted to know? That his parents are drug addicts perhaps and have abandoned their son to the streets? That he's in bad company? That he's a 'Vicim' of society?
LZammit - please note that to some extent we all hit the bottom at some stage or other of our lives. It may be luck, it may be the environment we live in...we react differently. Some come out stronger, others are destroyed (or destroy others!!) whatever it is, a crime - especially in a country where much solidarity is shown and facilities are available for the emarginated - cannot be tolerated or excused.
Those in more 'comfortable' position are obliged to care for the less fortunate, while everyone must do his utmost to make the best out of life without harming others wherever possible. SInce the situation in Malta does not resemble that in Somalia, I think that this is still possible.
tabone carmel
Dec 16th 2009, 13:44
Why did he commit this crime? We can't say that he committed this crime before they find him guilty. I can't find any reason for committing the alleged crime. Do not tell us that his upbringing was bad and this sort of reasoning, because at 15 he should still be at school studying for his future. If he commited the theft at only 15, what is he going to do when he gets older? We should pray for children like him, and if he is proven guilty he should be given a good lesson and help him to go straight.
A. Gauci
Dec 16th 2009, 13:02
I agree with L.Zammit. This boy might have problems in his life and, if he is guilty, he thought he could solve them by another.
L.Zammit
Dec 16th 2009, 12:43
It's better if you get to know WHAT allegedly made him commit this crime, rather than just concentrate on the happening itself ... imma msomma.. is-soltu storja.. nikbru u MA NITALLMUX!