A Somali teenager who stole two mobile phones from a Gozitan church during a Christmas concert was given a suspended sentence.
Guled Mohammed Ali, 19, of Victoria, committed the theft on December 27 when he went to St Francis church, in Victoria, to ask the parish priest for money. On a table he spotted a number of handbags whose owners were taking part in a Christmas concert and stole two mobile phones from them.
Police Inspector Frank Tabone said the police received two separate reports that a Samsung and an iPhone were stolen.
Magistrate Paul Coppini, sitting in the Gozo courts, sentenced him for six months in prison, suspended for a year, and ordered him to pay €600 to make good for the mobile phone that was not found.