Youth fined for breaching bail

Inspector Elton Taliana today arraigned 22-year-old Yousef Essesi, of Valletta, over charges of breaching bail conditions, when the youth left home to take a friend to hospital.

On 15 December 2009 a court presided by then Magistrate Antonio Mizzi had imposed bail conditions on the youth. Four years ago Essesi had been charged with using stolen cheques in a number of establishments. The bail conditions read that the accused could not leave his residence between 9pm and 6 am.

Earlier this month, on 5 October the police apprehended the accused outside his house at 00:45am. Essesi claimed he had left home in order to take a friend of his to hospital. The youth's friend also had bail conditions imposed on him, but the police did not prosecute him after confirming that on the night he had been admitted to hospital. However Inspector Taliana arraigned Essesi over charges of breaching bail.

Defence lawyer Marion Camilleri argued that since the police did not prosecute the other man, the same reasoning should have been applied in Essesi's favour. "He collaborated with the police, gave them the true reason why he left his residence and admitted to be in breach of bail conditions", the lawyer said. This was corroborated by the inspector.

Hearing the accused plead guilty to the charges, Magistrate Charmaine Galea fined Essesi €300.

Inspector Taliana prosecuted and lawyers Marion Camilleri and Franco Debono appeared for the accused.