Convicted petrol station thief charged again

A man has pleaded not guilty to stealing cash from a petrol station which he had already been convicted of stealing from less than a month ago.

Inspector Roderick Attard charged Michael Spiteri, a 32-year old bread delivery man from Zabbar, with the aggravated theft of €270 from a petrol station in Birzebbugia on the night of December 29 and January 2. He was also charged with causing damage to a fuel pump and committing these crimes whilst under a suspended sentence from last December. A charge of recidivism was also made.

Spiteri’s lawyer, Martin Fenech, entered a not guilty plea on the man’s behalf. He asked for bail. Spiteri had a fixed address and family ties to Malta argued the defence.

The prosecution objected to bail, however, due to the fact that the accused had been charged with a breach of a suspended sentence and in view of his criminal record.

The court, presided by magistrate Francesco Depasquale, said it was opportune to detain the man at this stage, both in view of the charge of committing the same crime twice in the same location and on the same equipment which he had been found guilty of stealing from some weeks ago, as well as to allow the prosecution to present its evidence.

Bail was denied.