Two admit pickpocketing charges, reimburse their victims
The cases took place in Valletta in April and May
A man and a woman who admitted pickpocketing charges and reimbursed their victims have been handed a suspended jail term.
Lucica Ivanciv and Marius Sandu appeared before Magistrate Donatella Frendo Dimech facing a string of charges related to pickpocketing in Valletta on April 26 and 30 and May 6 and 7. The value of stolen money exceeded €2,329.37.
Both Ivanciv and Sandu registered an early guilty plea. The court took several factors into account when determining the sentence, most notably that the accused had fully compensated all victims for their losses.
While the prosecution highlighted that the individuals were not first-time offenders, the court observed that a previous probation order against them did not technically constitute a formal conviction under the Criminal Code.
Magistrate Frendo Dimech ultimately sentenced the pair to two years imprisonment, suspended for four years. The court issued a three-year restraining order, to protect their victims.
The prosecution was led by lawyers Stephen Gulia and Julia Micallef Stafrace on behalf of the Attorney General together with Inspector Jeffrey Rizzo. The Romanian couple was represented by lawyers Franco Debono and Adreana Zammit.