Finger-print on jewellery box lands man in court over €7,000 theft

Josef Buttigieg, 32 of Mellieha was remanded in custody at the end of a sitting where lawyer Franco Debono made submissions based on his Private Member's Motion in Parliament, regarding what he described as "the irregular custom" of arraignment under arrest, and not granting of bail pending the hearing of witnesses.

Debono argued that his client was being charged with theft, receiving stolen goods and criminal association, when the onus of proof lays with the police who are prosecuting.

"Should we take a look at the Criminal Code, we find that whenever a person is charged and bail is being contested, all evidence must be produced to support that claim," Debono said, adding that "unfortunately we have adopted the irregular custom of kite-flying risks to deny a suspect's right to bail."

Replying to Debono, Inspector James Grech who prosecuted said that Buttigieg was arrested following months of investigations into a series of thefts from private homes, including an elderly woman's home, where more than €7,000 in cash and jewellery were stolen.

He added that the accused's finger-print was a perfect match to a print found on the jewellery box, and when confronted with this evidence, he fooled around and remained intransigent throughout his interrogation.