A man caught carrying a television set he had just stolen one Saturday night in Paceville was today sent to 60 months in jail.

The man stole the set from a nearby English language school. His accomplice, who had been waiting for him in a white Peugeot, was also found guilty and jailed for 30 months.

The case dates back to November when some items were reported missing from EF Language School in St Julian’s. Moments after the theft, the police saw 25-year-old Libyan Salem Ali Elaidy from Benghazi carrying a television set a short distance away from the school.

The court heard that as soon as the police asked for an explanation, the man dropped the set on the floor and tried to escape but was apprehended a few moments later.  It also heard that a white Peugeot with the luggage boot open had been observed reversing towards the Libyan, moments before he was seen by the police.

During interrogation, the Libyan told the police he found the set under a tree in Paceville.  The court, presided by Magistrate Aaron Bugeja, deemed such explanation as not credible, especially due to the man’s reaction to the police.

Though no fingerprints were found at the scene of the crime, and he was not caught with the TV set exiting the school, the court said that it was “morally convinced” that the Libyan was guilty.

He was sentenced to 24 months imprisonment and an additional 36 months for committing a crime while under probation and breaching a suspended sentence.

The second man convicted over this case was 34-year-old Abderraouf Barchech, who had been driving the white car.

The court noted the inconsistency of the man’s testimony who had said he had been in Paceville to buy a pizza with his wife’s hired vehicle.

In view of his lack of credibility, Magistrate Bugeja ruled that the even the Tunisian had a degree of involvement in the robbery and sentenced him to 30 months in jail, in view of this criminal record which included two separate convictions.