Couple jailed for two years over Gżira knife-point mugging
Pair threatened to kill victim if he failed to hand over €510, phone and documents
A man and a woman were jailed for two years for mugging a man at knife point in Gżira and threatening to kill him if he failed to hand over all his belongings.
Ivan Andres Hinestroza Ambuila,18, and Monica Alejandra Delgado Garcia, 21, both Colombian nationals without a fixed address in Malta, were accused of theft aggravated by violence, causing the victim to fear that violence would be used against him, as well as threatening and insulting him. They were also accused of being in possession of a weapon during the commission of a crime, and handling stolen goods.
Although the pair pleaded guilty at their arraignment, the court rejected the plea as inadmissible, citing their behaviour and the questions they posed about its consequences.
The incident took place at about 1.30am on December 29 in St Albert Street.
Police inspector Lydon Zammit had told a court that Hinestroza Ambuila, who was armed with a knife, and Delgado Garcia stopped the victim and robbed him of €510 in cash as well as his mobile phone and personal documents.
The victim was threatened to hand over all his belongings or else they would kill him.
The accused took a cab after the mugging, and moved from one Airbnb apartment to the next before they were traced back to a Sliema short let apartment where they were arrested.
During a search of the property, the police found the documents, wallet and mobile phone belonging to the victim.
When the pair appeared again before the court last month, they admitted to the charges.
The court took into consideration the fact that the pair had cooperated fully with the police and apologised to the victim. They also declared that they would refund the money.
It also took into consideration that violence was used in the theft and the victim feared for his belongings and his life, with the court stating that the pair should get an effective prison term.
The pair were jailed two years each and were ordered to refund the victim €510.
A three-year restraining order was issued in favour of the victim.
Magistrate Leonard Caruana presided.
AG lawyer Martina Muscat prosecuted along with police inspectors Ian Azzopardi, Keith Rizzo, and Lydon Zammit. Legal aid lawyers Victor Bugeja and Ingrid Zammit Young assisted Monica Alejandra Delgado Garcia and Ivan Andres Hinestroza Ambuila respectively.