Latvians get reduced term for credit card fraud
Two Latvian men who were jailed for three years in August after they admitted to using counterfeit credit cards had the term reduced to 13 months on appeal today.
Edgards Kervis, 20 and Eriks Zakis, 20, were jailed for using the counterfeit cards at two casinos in July and were jailed for three years. In their appeal they claimed the punishment was excessive and that the magistrates court failed to mitigate the punishment in view of the fact that they had admitted to the charges very early on in the proceedings.
They also argued that they had not benefited from the full amounts withdrawn but were acting on behalf of a much larger ring.
Mr Justice David Scicluna in his ruling today said that while considering the seriousness of the offences, the court must also keep in mind that they admitted to the charges at the earliest possible opportunity, that is to say on the same day they were charged before the Magistrates’ Court. This allowed them to benefit from a reduction in the punishment.
The judge added that although they admitted to the charges as formulated, they did not personally benefit from the full amounts mentioned in the charges. Furthermore both men are young first time offenders with clean conduct records.
Nonetheless, in view of the nature of the offences committed by them, an effective prison term was deemed essential.
Popular Stories
Update 3: Woman found dead in car,...
Updated: Woman dies in car crash
Carm Mifsud Bonnici resigns after...
Part of Dwejra 'Azure window' collapses
The end of the bar that ‘never closed’
Bundy does not know whether to...
Updated - Jason Micallef demands...
This WAS the night - Kurt makes it...
'No need for early election if PM's...
In Discussion
Updated - Jason Micallef demands...
Gozo tunnel could take 5-7 years to...
CABS remote controlled aircraft shot...
Carm Mifsud Bonnici resigns after...
Joseph Calleja condemns portrayal of...
Updated: Labour would give...
CABS drone shot down
Second group of migrants arrives
Adrian Vassallo in scathing...
6 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
E Gatt
Nov 26th 2010, 10:50
We work our buts off each day.
We pay our taxes to the full.
We endure a wage freeze for a significant number of years.
Have our hard earned cash stolen from under our noses
And watch the perpetrators get a suspended or diminished sentence.
Comments anyone.....?
T Camilleri
Nov 26th 2010, 10:13
Foreigners who commit a crime should always be jailed because they came here specifically to commit the crime. Of course they would have a clean conduct in Malta if ti's the first time they are caught, but they may have a conduct as long as a whole encyclopaedia at home.
C Ellul
Nov 26th 2010, 09:27
It is an insult to justice .
We are supposed to be protected from these thugs not make them feel protected to do their dirty work by the local legal system.
Shame , shame , shame.
The minister of Justice who is the people's representative should appeal to this irresponsible decision and if it is the result of legal loopholes , plug them up. This is why we elect a parliament .
Chrissey Zammit
Nov 26th 2010, 08:53
Gerard Cassar, I agree with you 100% Double their sentence NOT reduce it. Are the other gang members still roaming the streets of Malta? to carry on this crime. I suspect they are. I am fed up with reading SUSPENDED SENTENCE and REDUCED SENTENCE. These criminals are laughing at the Maltese Judicial System.
P Vella
Nov 26th 2010, 08:35
The way justice is administered in this island baffles me to say the least. This decision is an insult to the victims of the fraud whoever they may be.
Gerard Cassar
Nov 25th 2010, 20:26
quote ... were acting on behalf of a much larger ring." unquote. Was this taken into consideration. Have these two young foreigners revealed the identity of the criminals on behalf of whom they were acting. Themselves were part of a gang, an international one, it could be a local one too, it is always a gang of criminals,. Double the punishment not reduce it. '