Man who escaped oppression in Libya jailed for Swieqi car thefts

A Libyan asylum seeker has been sentenced to 18 months in prison this morning after he admitted to multiple charges of theft and voluntary damage, whilst out on bail for rape charges .

Magistrate Ian Farrugia heard Police Inspector Elton Taliana charge 28-year-old Ans Abdulla Algheziwi with stealing a laptop from a Swieqi student guest house, where he had previously resided, and the theft of several objects from two parked cars. Algheziwi was also charged with causing voluntary damage to the vehicles and breaching his bail conditions.

The inspector told the court how the accused had been recognised by one of the residents while leaving the guest house with the stolen laptop. He had allegedly asked one student for a knife, which he then used to break into the vehicles, cutting his finger in the process.

It was blood from this cut provided a perfect DNA match with the accused, the court was told.

The accused admitted his guilt, adding that he had been drunk at the time.

The Magistrate warned the accused that there was a hard prison sentence associated with the charges and gave him time to reconsider, but the plea was repeated.

During submissions on punishment, the prosecution asked the court to take into account the fact that the accused was on bail and had been charged with rape in that case. This, together with the voluntary damage, which caused distress to the victims, meant that a prison sentence should be awarded.

Defence lawyer Victor Bugeja, who was appointed as legal aid to the accused, put up a sturdy defence in the circumstances, pointing out that the accused was an asylum seeker escaping oppression in Libya. He had been drinking after receiving the news that his brother had been killed by militants in Libya, he said.

While the intoxication was not an excuse, the extreme personal circumstances should be taken into consideration, argued the lawyer and added that the prosecution’s reference to the rape charge was irrelevant, as the case had not yet been decided and the accused was therefore still presumed innocent. Other mitigating factors included the accused's early admission and clean criminal record.

The court, having retired to chambers to deliberate for some time, handed down an 18-month custodial sentence.