Homeless man asks to be sent to jail for five years
Accused admitted to petty theft
A homeless man asked to be sent to prison for five years on Thursday after he admitted to petty theft charges.
Yonathan Afewerki, 36, pleaded guilty to stealing a backpack and using a bank card at a lotto office.
Appearing in front of Magistrate Anne Marie Thake, the Eritrean national, who is homeless, asked the court to be sent to prison for five years.
However, Magistrate Thake suspended her sentencing decision until Friday morning.
The court heard how two people reported the stolen backpack on February 22 in Pietà.
They said they had left the bag unattended as they helped out with a marathon passing through the area.
Because the victims had an AirTag in the bag, the police were able to locate Afewerki, who was walking with the bag in Marsa when officers arrested him.
Afewerki was arrested but was allowed out on police bail shortly after. However, soon after, the victims told police that one of their bank cards had been used at a lotto office.
When re-arrested, the man admitted to all the charges brought against him.
The prosecution was led by lawyer Sarah Kathleen Zerafa together with lawyers Clive Aquilina, Luigi Gulia and Ylenia Xerri.