Court finds man guilty of Group 4 theft, does not award company damages
Although a court found a man guilty today of stealing more than €120,000 from a Group 4 Securitas Van in 1998, it failed to award the company damages on grounds that it failed to substantiate its claims.
Mr Justice Joseph R Micallef, in the First Hall of the Civil Court, delivered this judgment following a writ of summons filed by Group 4 Securitas (Malta) Ltd and two foreign insurance companies against Michael Angelo Pace, Victor Calleja and Jason Calleja.
The companies claimed that Mr Pace, an employee of Group 4, had organised a hold up of the company's van that he was driving. Lm51,692.64 (€120,411.46) in cash and Lm161,448.84 (€376,074.63) in cheques were stolen. The hold up took place in Marsa on December 22, 1998.
The court was requested to find respondents responsible for the theft and to order them to pay damages.
The court heard that Mr Pace had admitted to the criminal charges against him and had been given a suspended sentence by the Magistrates Court. Both Victor and Jason Calleja denied complicity and had not faced criminal charges.
In its judgment, the court found that Group 4 had proven its case against Mr Pace but had failed to prove it against the Callejas.
But the court declined to award damages on the basis that the company had not produced evidence to show that it had suffered damages or that it had reimbursed its clients.
The court, therefore, held Mr Pace responsible for the theft but did not deliver any award of damages.
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...
Second group of migrants arrives
Updated: Labour would give...
CABS drone shot down
Adrian Vassallo in scathing...
9 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
Tony Borg
Jan 14th, 08:18
Friends of Friends..........it is like having a Mr.Justice so and so, that commands several companies with about 40 persons working indirectly for him. What can he do if one of these employees comes up in front of him for a sentence?? HaHaHa
Ramon Casha
Jan 14th, 07:04
This is great!! Hold up a security van, and you get away scot free with a pile of money, a suspended sentence and you don't have to return a cent even when you're caught AND found guilty.
Whoever said "crime doesn't pay" had no experience of Maltese courts. It's the best career choice one can make!
Saviour Cachia
Jan 14th, 00:30
How many similar thefts will be organised this year, when Malta (and Europe) are facing hard times? Only in Malta. Can you see any balance with was committed and what was finally the sentence? Home Affairs and Justice should not only have been split, but divorced. Poor Franco Debono, the victim (martyr?) of bad politics.
mrmike surpac
Feb 15th, 18:55
Think twice before you make a comment like you did !!! why don't you look after your own buisness?
Joseph N. Attard
Jan 13th, 20:37
By these kind of sentences, our courts continue to distance themselves from the people. We often hear that we are not qualified to judge: that may be so, but we are not bereft of common sense, either. Suspended sentence? !!!! God help us all.
H. Galea
Jan 13th, 19:08
Please guys, help me ! is it that my brain is going haywire? ... or what ? I simply cannot follow the logic ....if logic there is ..... Does crime really pay? or is it my distorted interpretation ????
ALBERT FENECH
Jan 13th, 18:44
"The court heard that Mr Pace had admitted to the criminal charges against him and had been given a suspended sentence by the Magistrates Court. Both Victor and Jason Calleja denied complicity and had not faced criminal charges."
Right, so as the security van driver this individual organises a hold-up in which euro120,000 is stolen, and the sentence is a suspended one. That's really quite eye-opening. Many prospective criminals will be putting their thinking cap on ...
ALBERT FENECH
mrmike surpac
Feb 15th, 19:06
Mr Fenech... I am Mr Pace.. I just arrive in malta from L.A and I saw your comment....I thing it could be better off you think about your own problems and not interfiring in others peoples sentences... Mr M.pace
Peter Zahra
Jan 13th, 18:38
Suspended sentence ?? Worth it mela hux ??