A care worker yesterday found himself facing a maximum of six years in jail for stealing fruit, bread and some butter from a home for the elderly after the police charged him with both theft and embezzlement.
Emanuel Camilleri, 54, from Żabbar, who works St Vincent de Paul home handing out food to residents, was let off with a conditional discharge after the magistrate said he had learnt his lesson when made to face charges of this nature.
Mr Camilleri had been caught on October 26 last year with the items in his car during a surprise security inspection.
During the short arraignment yesterday, defence lawyer Stefano Filletti pointed out that his client was in court over items worth less than €10 and was only charged with embezzlement because he was a government employee. He also highlighted that over some bread and butter, the prosecution had also requested that he receive a general perpetual interdiction which would effectively ban him from working for the government ever again.
Magistrate Jacqueline Padovani took into consideration that Mr Camilleri had admitted to stealing the food straightaway and conditionally discharged him for two years.