Fined Lm350 for stealing Lm60 worth of diesel

A 20-year-old man was yesterday fined Lm350 for stealing Lm60 worth of diesel to fuel a truck he and his friends were driving around.

Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera decided to fine Charles Azzopardi ruling that "he would physically feel the punishment as he had to work to make up for his mistake".

Mr Azzopardi was found guilty of stealing the fuel from Fort Block Limited on July 4, 2004 but was cleared of driving the truck without a licence. The magistrate heard how Mr Azzopardi and his friend had told a man they were interested in buying a truck. They took the vehicle on what was to be a test drive but drove around for three days.

As the vehicle ran out of fuel and the two young men met another two friends, one of the friends suggested taking fuel from Fort Block Limited.

Police Inspector Raymond Cassar prosecuted.