Thief claimed he was somebody else when questioned by police, court hears
He even produced a passport which was not his own
A 41-year-old man has been jailed for 18 months for breaking into a restaurant and stealing cash.
Curguz Dragan, a Serbian national, was accused of theft from La Marina Pizzeria in Marsascala, causing wilful damage to the property, possessing somebody else's Serbian passportand trying to make use of it, making a false statement to the Principal Immigration Officer, and failing to inform the Principal Immigration Officer that he had been previously deported from Malta.
The case dates back to September 9, 2019 when the police were informed that the restaurant had been broken into and around €130 stolen. CCTV footage showed a person lifting a wooden panel from the façade and entering the restaurant. The suspect was wearing a cap and was shirtless. On September 10 the police were tipped off about the suspect's whereabouts.
He was arrested and taken to Cospicua police station, where he claimed his name was Stojan Zubic. He had a passport and a driving licence in his possession which indicated that name. The police found cash and a cap similar to the one seen in the CCTV footage.
A localisation report was requested and it was determined that there was evidence of the man’s movements in Marsascala, including the area where the theft occurred. However, the data was unable to pinpoint the accused’s exact location.
In his statement, Dragan denied the charges and claimed that he was asked by a random person to use his phone.
He later testified that on the day of the theft he received his salary of €1,200 and went to sleep because it was his day off. He then woke up and met his friends. He ended up in St Julian’s and denied stealing the money.
The court found the man guilty of aggravated theft, possessing someone else’s passport and making a false declaration to the Principal Immigration Officer. He was jailed for 18 months and ordered to pay €1,851.02 in court expenses. He was acquitted of the rest of the charges.
Magistrate Leonard Caruana presided. Police inspector Eman Hayman prosecuted.