Sliema man charged with multiple thefts from churches

A 46-year-old Sliema man has been remanded in custody after he pleaded not guilty to charges of stealing from churches.

Inspector Saviour Baldacchino, prosecuting, charged Eric Sapiano with the theft of a number of artefacts of cultural heritage value, from various churches around the islands, including a painting by Antonio Falzon dating back to 1861, which had been stolen from Ta’ Ġieżu Church in Valletta in February 2012, an antique vase taken from Stella Maris parish church in Sliema in August 2014, a silver chalice stolen last August from the Safi parish church and a silver vase which had gone missing from St Paul’s Church in Valletta last February. 

It is thought that his final theft was that of a vase taken from St Publius parish church in Floriana last week.

Magistrate Audrey Demicoli heard how Sapiano had been arrested on Tuesday morning, after a police search on his home returned a number of works of art.

Sapiano was also charged in connection with his being in possession of a silver plate with an engraving of the emblem of St Dominic, which had also been stolen.

The collective value of the stolen items is thought to be of several thousand euros.

The court was told how Sapiano was also a relapser.

The magistrate ordered Sapiano be remanded in custody due to the risk of him tampering with evidence.