A man with a drug problem has been handed a suspended jail term and placed under a supervision order after admitting to a series of theft-related charges.

Roderick Zahra, a 33-year old from St Lucia, was arraigned this morning under arrest after incriminating CCTV footage had put investigators on his tail.

The man was charged with having been behind the theft of aluminum apertures to the detriment of a local business group, as well as with having knowingly received copper cables which the police discovered inside his car.

The man was further charged with another instance of attempted theft from the Halland Hotel. All alleged offences took place earlier this year in February and March, with investigations culminating in today’s arraignment.

Standing before duty magistrate Audrey Demicoli, the suspect registered an admission, upon which the court declared him guilty and handed down a two-year jail term suspended for 4 years.

In view of the accused’s main underlying problem, namely his drug habit, the court placed him under a two-year Supervision Order with a recommendation to address his drug addiction which was the root of all his trouble with the law.

Inspector Kylie Borg prosecuted.
Lawyers Alfred Abela and Charmaine Cherrett were defence counsel.