A mother's desperate bid to provide her daughter with medical treatment abroad landed her in court on charges of forging documents for unlawful profit.

The 31-year old mother, whose name cannot be published by court order, stole a cheque book and forged the signature on two cheques in the hope of obtaining the necessary funds to pay for her daughter's medical trip to the UK.

The court, presided by magistrate Joseph Mifsud, heard how the accused then proceeded to cash the cheques at a petrol station and a lotto booth respectively.

The mother's wrongdoing was soon uncovered and she ended up in court where she pleaded guilty to the criminal charges instituted against her.

The court, whilst acknowledging the wrong perpetrated by the accused, issued a strong warning against the defrauded owners. They ought not to have cashed the cheques in the first place. It was only upon discovering that they had been cheated out of their cash that they sought recourse before the courts, the magistrate remarked.

Noting the medical certificate confirming the girl's illness, the court chided the woman for having resorted to such unlawful measures when she could have turned to the Malta Community Chest Fund and Puttinu Cares for help.

Moreover, as a healthy and relatively young woman, the accused should have rolled up her sleeves and sought some suitable job to fund her daughter's needs. "This would have ensured a more dignified life both for herself and her daughter," the court remarked.

Bearing in mind the particular circumstances of the case and for the purpose of granting to the accused 'a window of opportunity ', the court declared the woman guilty and placed her under a three-year probation order.

The court adopted this line of sentencing in the hope that "the accused would stay on the right path and avoid repeating her mistakes."

The accused was ordered to refund to the defrauded parties €2,945 and €950 respectively in monthly payments of €150.

Lawyer Lucio Sciriha offered to voluntarily assist the woman since she did not have the means to pay a lawyer.

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