Bail denied to woman who shoplifted €33 from home goods store
50-year-old breached a set of bail conditions
A 50-year-old Valletta woman who shoplifted a total of €33 in items from a store was denied bail on Thursday morning.
The woman, who cannot be named by court order, was accused of having shoplifted the items, including three forks and a lighter, breaching a set of bail conditions and recidivism.
Police inspector Elton Buckingham explained that the Sliema Police Station received a report in December concerning the alleged shoplifting from Homemate at Tigné Point.
The woman went to the store on November 28 and was caught on security cameras taking items without paying for them.
Her image was uploaded to the wanted list, and another police unit informed the investigators that she already signed at the Valletta police station in line with bail conditions issued in separate criminal proceedings.
The woman failed to sign the bail book and was arrested on Wednesday at her home.
In court, the woman denied the charges.
Defence lawyer Matthew Xuereb requested bail.
The prosecution objected, insisting that at this stage the woman needs help, but if granted bail, there was a possibility she would commit other crimes. Moreover, there were many missing signatures.
Xuereb countered that the amount was very small and that she needed help. Lawyer Yanica Barbara Sant also assisting the woman, underlined that the woman had drug problems in the past, and needs to be reintegrated.
After the submissions were made, the court denied bail due to the fact that the woman had been previously given multiple opportunities to reform herself, including a treatment order.
She was already convicted of having breached bail and was deemed untrustworthy by the court.
The woman was remanded in custody.
Magistrate Nadia Helena Vella presided.
Police inspector Elton Buckingham prosecuted, while lawyers Matthew Xuereb and Yanica Barbara Sant appeared for the accused.