'What’s the minimum punishment?' asks man accused of string of car thefts
Accused tried to negotiate a shorter sentence with the court
A 46-year-old Żabbar man asked a court “what’s the minimum punishment?” after indicating he would admit to a string of thefts from parked cars, before being remanded in custody on Thursday.
Eman Zammit was accused of stealing from three parked vehicles in his hometown, making fraudulent use of stolen bank cards and handling stolen goods. He was also accused of recidivism.
Police inspector Kurt Farrugia explained that the first two thefts from the parked vehicles were filed on March 9. The suspect used the bank cards to pay items at different shops, and successfully managed to buy a packet of cigarettes the first time round, but two other transactions did not go through.
A third theft was reported last Friday from another parked vehicle and there was an attempt to use the cards.
Among the items stolen from the three incidents were €20 in cash and a bag worth €160.
The man signalled his intention to admit to the charges and asked the court, “what is the minimum punishment?”
The court explained that the minimum he was facing was 18 months, however, it was not bound by this amount if it felt that in the circumstances of the case a harsher punishment was to be meted out.
Legal aid lawyer Yanika Bugeja informed the court that after speaking to her client, he was insisting that he should get 15 months imprisonment and not 18. The court did not accept his guilty plea.
Bail was requested. However, it transpired that the man did not live at the address provided in court but a farmhouse which lacked the necessary facilities to make it habitable.
Zammit was escorted out of the courtroom.
Magistrate Tanya Sammut presided.
Police inspector Kurt Farrugia prosecuted while legal aid lawyer Yanika Bugeja appeared for the accused.