Woman arrested for donation box theft after spotted trying to steal at air pump
The 50-year-old was spotted by a police officer after a warrant was issued for her arrest
A 50-year-old unemployed woman wanted by police was arrested after an inspector observed her trying to steal money from an air pump at a fuel station in Santa Venera.
The woman was wanted in connection with the theft of a donation box containing €40 in cash from a Birkirkara church.
Police inspector Joseph Mallia explained that on Wednesday last week, a report had been filed at Birkirkara Police Station that a person had entered the church a day earlier at around 6pm and stolen a donation box containing some €40.
Suspect Josephine Alsulayman, a Santa Venera resident, was identified from the CCTV footage, and a warrant was issued for her arrest.
When the inspector went to refuel his car on Sunday evening, he noticed the woman, who was wearing the same clothes, trying to break open the coin box of the air pump. He called for backup, and she was arrested at the scene.
The woman resisted arrest; when they tried to put handcuffs on her, she scratched a sergeant and spat in the officer’s face, a court heard Monday.
The woman was given time to calm down and afterwards told police where she hid the donation box.
Alsulayman was accused of theft aggravated by value, violence and means from St Anthony of Padua and St Catherine’s Church in Birkirkara on January 27.
She was also accused of handling stolen goods and damaging the lock, table and electronic candles where the donation box was. She was further accused of attempted theft from the air pump.
Alsulayman also faced charges of causing grievous bodily harm to a sergeant on duty, as well as trying to flee the scene during her arrest. She was further charged with threatening the police officers involved in her arrest and with resisting the arrest.
The woman was also charged with recidivism.
She pleaded guilty to all charges.
The prosecution requested that the woman be handed a prison term of four to four and a half years. Prosecutor Nicholas De Gaetano explained that the donation box and the table were returned, and the latter was damaged.
Legal aid lawyer Ingrid Zammit Young said her client was “desperate”, which had led her to resort to stealing from a church. She agreed with the submissions made by the prosecution and said Alsulayman required help treating her drug addiction.
The case was adjourned for judgment.
Magistrate Nadine Sant Lia presided.
AG lawyer Nicholas De Gaetano prosecuted, assisted by police inspector Joseph Mallia.
Legal aid lawyer Ingrid Zammit Young assisted the accused.