Prison is handbag thief s last chance to beat drug addiction, court says
A court dismesses an appeal filed by a man who was convicted of stealing handbags from elderly women
6 May 2021, 3:52pm
by Matthew Agius
A court has dismissed an appeal filed by a man who had been convicted together with his twin brother of stealing handbags from elderly women, saying that incarceration was his last hope of overcoming his drug addiction.
Stephen Cassar, 35, from Qormi, had been arraigned in court in December 2019 together with his brother Gordon, accused of aggravated theft and recidivism.
Both brothers had pleaded guilty and had been sentenced to two years in prison, as well as being ordered to return the cash and items stolen from their victims.
A mother-of-four, who had landed a suspended sentence and a lifelong interdiction for allegedly embezzling funds at the Dingli day centre for the elderly, has been cleared on appeal in a case that boiled down to an unfounded suspicion.
Philippa Borg, now 69, was prosecuted over allegations of misappropriation as officer in charge at the centre for elderly residents where she had worked for some 12 years, starting out as helper.
Trouble brewed when an MCAST student on placement at the centre back in 2008, reported to her lecturers about certain ‘malpractices’ at the centre, allegedly concerning Borg who failed to keep proper records of tombola revenue.
Court overturns conviction in involuntary homicide of father crossing road with child
The Court of Criminal Appeal has overturned an involuntary homicide conviction handed to a man who ran over and killed a pedestrian in front of his 10-year-old child in 2016
4 May 2021, 11:40am
by Matthew Agius
The Court of Criminal Appeal has overturned an involuntary homicide conviction handed to a man who ran over and killed a pedestrian in front of his 10-year-old child in 2016.
Jonathan Hili had been found guilty of negligently causing the death of Andre Debattista in the horrific traffic accident. Contributory negligence had been found on the part of the victim, who had been crossing the road with his 10-year-old daughter at the time.
Criminal Court grants bail to Italian men accused of trafficking 55kg of cannabis
Two men charged last year with having imported 55kg of cannabis have been released on bail
30 April 2021, 3:44pm
by Matthew Agius
The two were arrested by the police upon their arrival on a vessel in Marsascala last November (Photo: Malta Police Force)
Two men charged last year with having imported 55kg of cannabis have been released on bail.
Vito Potenza, 34, and Antonio Saponara, 35, denied importing and trafficking the drug. They were also charged with conspiracy to import drugs into Malta.
The two were arrested by the police upon their arrival on a vessel in Marsascala last November. The court heard how a tip-off to the Drug Squad about a boat entering the port with a large amount of cannabis aboard had led to the men’s arrests. Sacks containing the drugs, thought to have a street value of around €750,000, were found.
Judge Consuelo Scerri Herrera recuses herself from Vince Muscat HSBC case
Judge recuses herself on request of HSBC heist suspect Vince Muscat over claim he can link Labour minister to 2010 robbery
7 April 2021, 11:33am
by Matthew Agius
Scerri Herrera’s brother, Jose Herrera, is a Labour minister.
Muscat, known as il-Koħħu, allegedly told police investigators that he can link two high-profile Labour politicians to the botched 2010 robbery in a second request for a presidential pardon.
In his application requesting the judge’s recusal, Muscat had stated that the judge’s brother was not one of the two politicians linked to the crime but added that he had a close relationship with them, by virtue of his work.