Tourists land 10-month jail term for hotel theft

Two Italian men, Walter Rapisarda, 23 and Dario Drago, 27, both on holiday in Malta, were handed a ten-month jail term after admitting to stealing from two rooms at the Alexandra Hotel, in St Julian's.

With the seven victims of the thefts sitting at the court's back benches during the hearing, police inspector Trevor Muscat told the court that two mobile phones, an iPad, an iPod and €750 in cash were reported stolen from a hotel room.

However, only the phones and €515 were recovered from the two Sicilian tourists. The theft happened when the two had onlt been on the island for just one day.

The victims, who arrived on holiday in Malta last Tuesday, are expected to leave this Friday.

Rapisarda and Drago were arrested when CCTV cameras caught them loitering in the vicinity of the hotel.

Defence counsel Dr Joseph Ellis argued that the two Sicilians collaborated with the authorities. During investigations, they apologised for their actions. "A jail term is not the ideal punishment for such a folly of youth," the defence lawyer held.

Aftrer postponing the sitting for an hour and a half, Magistrate Marseanne Farrugia exited her chambers and read the court's decision in the absence of the defence lawyer, who did not turn up at court when called. 

The two Sicilian youths were handed a ten-month jail term. Their legal aid lawyer entered the courtroom after sentence was delivered. The convicted youths appealed from the punishment. Dr Ellis requested bail for the convicted while they await their appeal. The magistrate turned down the request.