86-year-old pensioner forgives carer who stole money from bank account

Looking jovial in the witness stand, 86-year-old Giuseppe Calleja of Tarxien told a court he had forgiven his social helper for stealing €1,250 from his bank account after having been told by the police the money had been returned to him in less than 24 hours after filing a criminal complaint.

In court unaccompanied by her lawyer, accused Rita Busuttil, 56 of Tarxien, pleaded guilty to charges of withdrawing the money from Calleja's bank account in February 2013. At the time she worked as a part-time social assistant with the Department of the Elderly and Community Care. While cleaning the victim's house, she took his ATM card and over three days withdrew €500 twice from an ATM in Bulebel and €250 from a Rabat ATM.

In August, the victim received a bank statement and realised that there were three transactions he was not aware of. He informed Bank of Valletta but was told that too much time had passed since the alleged fraud. Subsequently he filed a police report at a police station.

"I was surprised when in less than 24 hours the inspector called me saying he had a cheque for me of the missing amount. The cheque was issued by my helper, however my children and I have forgiven her," Calleja said.

Calleja seemed inured to the fustiness of the court session, informing the magistrate that he had awoken on the day at 4:30am to attend mass. "I've never been to court in all my life, so I wanted to be sure I was on time. I was about to call someone to help me since I wasn't sure which ties matched my suit."

Busuttil's senior manager from the DECC said the social assistant joined the department in 1990 but resigned in 2000, then reinstated in 2004, and in 2010 became a part-timer, helping the elderly with their chores, preparing theirt medication, and running errands for them. On the 4 June, Busuttil was transferred to the Zejtun daycare centre for the elderly.

On hearing Busuttil's guilty plea, Magistrate Ian Farrugia explained to the accused that the court would give her time to rethink her plea. Moments later she reiterated her admission and was handed a three-year conditional discharge and a general perpetual interdiction, banning her from working as a civil servant for the rest of her life.

"Your actions could have landed you in prison, but you took the right path and corrected your ways. Now be careful not to commit any other crime or you will serve jail time over these charges as well," Magistrate Ian Farrugia told the accused. Police Inspector Jurgen Vella prosecuted.