Airport loader steals from unlocked luggage

An aircraft loader was given a suspended sentence after being found guilty of stealing items he found while rummaging through suitcases just before loading them on a plane.

Frankie Farrugia, 28, was found guilty of opening suitcases and pocketing cash and digital cameras just before putting them on a Ryanair flight to Luton in January 2008.

Another airport employee, Mark Magro, was cleared of the same charges after the court felt there was not enough evidence to find him guilty.

The police were alerted by the Malta International Airport after a number of passengers on the Malta-Luton flight complained that items were missing from their suitcases. On examining footage from the closed circuit television cameras in the sorting room, the police saw an employee, Kirsten Falzon, removing perfume from a suitcase.

Mr Falzon then testified against Mr Farrugia and Mr Magro but his testimony only secured the conviction of the former.

Mr Falzon said he had seen Mr Farrugia opening suitcases that were not locked before putting them in the aircraft hold. He also said he would see him split cash with Mr Magro.

Magistrate Audrey Demicoli said she had to weigh Mr Falzon's testimony with caution because he himself had admitted to similar charges of theft in a separate court case.

She noted that Mr Falzon specifically mentioned Mr Farrugia as the person stealing items from the suitcases and not Mr Magro. It could not be proven without a doubt that Mr Magro was involved or was an accomplice, she said.

As a result, the court cleared Mr Magro of the charges of theft and found Mr Farrugia guilty. She handed down a one-year jail term suspended for two.

Police Inspector Jason Agius prosecuted.

Lawyer Marion Camilleri appeared for Mr Farrugia.

Lawyers Josè Herrera and Noel Bianco appeared for Mr Magro.