Jailed five years for robbing great-aunt

Josef Agius, 23 of Mtarfa, who is currently homeless after his parents kicked him out of the house due to his intransigence to attend a drug rehabilitation programme, was this afternoon jailed for three years, while the courts slapped another two years of jail time which became effective from a previous suspended sentence.

Agius pleaded guilty to the charges brought against him, related to the theft of gold and jewellery from his great-aunt's home in Zabbar on October 20.

Magistrate Joseph Apap Bologna who presided over the case, heard Inspectors Carlos Cordina and Sylvana Briffa explain that Agius had cooperated with the Police, and even guided them to where he sold the stolen items.

The items were traced to a store in Republic Street in Valletta, but were subsequently sent on to a mint.

During interrogation, Agius said that he committed the theft to pay up a large debt he had with his drug supplier, and identified four persons who were allegedly threatening him over the debt.

In handing judgment, Magistrate Apap Bologna said that he could not avoid a jail term, and neither could he avoid converting a two year suspended sentence imposed last June into an effective one.

He was jailed for a total of five years.

Lawyer Renzo Porsella Flores appeared for Agius as legal aid.