BMW theft earns two years' jail

A 22-year-old man was yesterday jailed for two years for stealing a BMW from its owner's garage last year.

Johan Sultana, of Hamrun, was charged with breaking into Anthony Aquilina's residence and stealing his BMW, as well as a painting and other valuables on March 22, 2003, handling stolen property, committing the crimes during the operative time of a suspended jail term and relapsing.

Sultana pleaded guilty to handling stolen property but denied stealing the items.

However, Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera heard how the day after the burglary eyewitnesses saw Sultana drive the BMW.

Citing case law the magistrate noted that the possession of stolen goods soon after they have been stolen was one of the indications that that person was the thief.

She found Sultana guilty of theft and cleared him of handling stolen property, despite his guilty plea. She also cleared him of relapsing since the prosecution had failed to exhibit past judgments according to law.

On handing down judgement, the magistrate noted that Sultana had 45 convictions for which he had been fined, put on probation and given suspended jail terms despite his young age.

Sultana, she said, had to learn that he formed part of society and that he had to behave accordingly. He also had to address his serious problem, that of kleptomania, and seek the help of a psychiatrist so that he would behave within society once released from jail.

Inspector Silvio Valletta prosecuted.