An expensive lift to prison

A 22-year-old Somali who stole a wallet containing about €600 and a mobile phone from a 62-year-old farmer who gave him a lift from Marsa to Valletta was yesterday jailed for 18 months.

Jimale Hassan Abdullahi had asked Samuel Baldacchino to give him and his friend a lift to Valletta after the two met in a bar in Marsa on January 26.

Mr Baldacchino testified he had bought a round of drinks for friends at the Marsa bar when he was approached by Mr Abdullahi who asked for a drink too but he refused to buy him one. Later, when Mr Baldacchino went to the toilet, he was approached a second time by Mr Abdullahi who asked him for a lift to Valletta.

Mr Baldacchino dropped off his friend in Valletta but on the way back his aggressor asked him to pull over so he could urinate by the side of the road. As he did so, Mr Abdullahi threatened Mr Baldacchino with a knife and stole his mobile phone and wallet.

Mr Abdullahi said he did threaten Mr Baldacchino and steal the wallet but claimed there were only €200 in it. He said he found the knife in the victim’s car.

Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera found him guilty of stealing the wallet and threatening Mr Baldacchino with a knife. She took into consideration the fact that he was a first-time offender.