A 37-year-old French woman living in Malta was handed an eight-month prison sentence suspended for a year after pleading guilty to having stolen money from a restaurant which employed her.

Siliberberg Helene was charged with stealing between €232 and €2,329 from a restaurant at the Skyparks complex.

Legal aid lawyer Noel Bartolo, who appeared for the accused, argued that the accused resorted to theft after she did not receive her wages despite working at the restaurant for a month.

He argued that this, together with the fact that the accused had already paid part of the sum taken and that she had a clean police conduct should be taken into consideration.

Dr Bartolo urged the court to consider a suspended sentence. Inspector Silvio Magro, prosecuting, agreed.

Magistrate Gabriella Vella, who presided over the case, handed the woman an eight-month sentence suspended for one year.

In another case, a 42-year old man from Żebbuġ was denied bail after being charged with stealing a bicycle and breaching bail conditions.

The accused, Antoine Lawrence Mallia, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Legal aid lawyer Noel Bartolo, who appeared for the accused, requested bail, arguing that his client was innocent until proven guilty.

Prosecuting officer Inspector Kylie Borg, argued there were witnesses that still had to testify and therefore bail should not be granted.

Magistrate Vella denied the accused bail, saying the court feared Mr Mallia would not adhere to conditions imposed on him.