Deliveryman is discharged

A deliveryman who claimed to have been beaten up during a hold-up in an attempt to fleece his employer of some money was yesterday conditionally discharged for three years.

Tony Attard, 37, from Santa Venera had phoned the police saying that he had been robbed by two men on a motorbike who made off with about €630 in cash. He even had bruises and scratches.

The police, however, became suspicious of his story and, on further questioning, he admitted that it was all a ploy to try to keep the takings of the day, amounting to €630, because he was going through financial troubles.

Defence lawyer José Herrera pointed out to Magistrate Claire Stafrace Zammit that his client was a first-time offender and had returned the money. In fact, his employer, Paolo Bonnici Limited, had said that they would not be firing him after realising the problems he was going through.