Suspended jail term for admitting to theft, ordered to compensate €10,000 to victims

Romanian born Ioana Ciocan, 20 of Swieqi was this morning handed a two year jail term, suspended for four years, after she admitted to stealing gold, jewellery and cash from her former partners' mother's home in St. Julian's.

Ciocan, who appeared before Magistrate Doreen Clarke sporting a left hand covered in tattoo's and a smile on her face, was ordered to compensate the €10,000 she stole from her victims with six months.

She was warned that should she not pay up within six months, she would be brought again before the courts and made to serve her suspended sentence. She was also warned that should she commit another crime to pay the money she owed, she would be have her suspended sentence made effective, while also being convicted of the new crime.

The victim of the theft, who was represented by lawyer Ray Zammit, appeared in tears.