Damaged phone lands migrant in dock

A damaged €200 mobile phone landed Guinea national Sekou Balde after the police arraigned the migrant with involuntarily damaging the device.

Prosecuting inspector Trevor Micallef explained to how on 13 October, the accused was talking with Terrance Walter Cross outside an establishment in Triq San Gorg, St Julian's. Cross is employed as a bouncer at the same establishment. Being under the influence of alcohol, the accused involuntarily knocked the mobile phone from the bouncer's hand. Cross demanded that Balde pays for it however the accused said he did not have cash.

Seeing the phone in pieces and hearing the migrant had no money, Cross filed a police report. The police arrested Balde and charged him with causing involuntary damage to the phone and being drunk in a public place. The man pleaded guilty to all charges.

Magistrate Aaron Bugeja handed the accused a three-month jail term suspended for a year. Inspector Trevor Micallef prosecuted, and legal aid lawyer Yana Micallef Stafrace appeared for the accused.