Stolen plough taken to owner for service

A man whose plough had been stolen got the surprise of his life when a client turned up at his workshop with the machine and asked him to service it.

Joseph Pulis, who happened to be the agent for the mechanical ploughs branded Brumi, had reported it stolen on May 19, 2004. A water pump and an insecticide machine were also taken.

That same day, Alfred Spiteri, 37, turned up at Mr Pulis's workshop and asked him to service the plough, which, he said, he had just purchased. Mr Pulis immediately recognised the machine and called the police.

Mr Spiteri had said he had bought the machine on the suggestion of his 68-year-old father, Joseph, who was offered the machine by bar owner Carmel Callus.

The Spiteris and Mr Callus were charged with stealing the equipment, handling stolen property and damaging the room from where the equipment was stored.

The father and son had gone to view the machine at Mr Callus's house and bought it for €1,211, including the insecticide equipment, the court heard.

Mr Callus testified that he had bought the equipment from an Arab man who told him he got it from someone who wanted to stop working his fields. Magistrate Antonio Mizzi said there was no evidence to tie the Spiteris to the theft of the items and found them not guilty.

Mr Callus was convicted of handling stolen property.

The magistrate said he found the father and son's testimony credible but could not believe Mr Callus who knew full well that the items had a dubious provenance.

Mr Callus was given a 12 month jail term suspended for four years.

Police Inspector Anthony Cassar prosecuted.