A former police constable who broke into a parked vehicle and made off with its dashboard, was placed under probation and a 200-hour community service order after admitting to the theft.

The court argued that a person could go through dark patches in life, possibly resulting in acts which “cast a shadow upon a 30-year career within the police”.

Nevertheless, it observed that public officers – including police, armed forces, civil protection officers and community officers – were to abide by the law and model their life upon “sound moral values”, adding that this applied across all ranks.

Joseph Farrugia, a 50-year old residing in Gozo, late one evening in October removed the dashboard from an Isuzu vehicle parked inside the Xewkija Industrial Estate.

In light of his admission, the court, presided over by magistrate Joseph Mifsud, declared the accused guilty, seizing upon the opportunity to stress that members of all disciplinary corps should set an example for the rest of society.

After much reflection, the court chose not to give in to public accusatory calls, but rather reaffirmed its belief in reparative justice, and place him under a three-year probation order and a 200-hour community service order, recommending that this be served at the Arka Foundation of Għajnsielem.

Inspectors Josef Gauci and Mario Xiberras prosecuted. Lawyer Anton Refalo was defence counsel.