The police charged a Serb with theft from a Salina cafeteria after a DNA test on a cigarette butt found on site matched his.

Police Inspectors James Grech and Fabian Fleri told Magistrate Charmaine Galea that the DNA result matched that of Dejan Petkovic, a former football coach with a local team, who is already facing criminal proceedings over a different theft.

The 33-year-old man from St Paul’s Bay, who said he was a plasterer, was charged with stealing more than €2,400 in cash and cigarettes from the Melita Gardens Cafeteria in Salina. He also caused more than €2,500 in damage to the cafeteria as well as to vending machines.

The theft took place early on January 13.

The inspectors said the Serb had been investigated over a theft of cigarettes and alcohol from a kiosk in Qawra on January 27. Although the police suspected he had also been involved in the Melita Gardens theft too, they had no evidence to link him to the case but the DNA result changed this situation.

Lawyer Leontine Calleja appeared for the man.

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