Serbian poker player's bad run nearly lands him in jail

A poker player’s run of bad luck ended up with him receiving a criminal conviction this morning, after he admitted to stealing nearly €10,000 worth of dresses he intended to gift to his wife to make amends for losing all his money gambling.

Vladimir Ivljanin, 34, from Serbia, was arraigned before Magistrate Neville Camilleri by Inspector Elton Taliana this morning charged with stealing three Bluemarine dresses from a Hugo Boss outlet in St. Julians. Inspector Taliana told the court that the accused had been caught red-handed.

Taliana explained that before attempting to shoplift the items, Ivljanin had lost all his money playing poker at the casino.

Ivljanin’s lawyer, Roberto Montaldo, described the theft as a crime committed on the spur of the moment, a fact corroborated by a police search of his hotel room which did not turn up anything.

Montalto argued that contrary to what had been alleged by the prosecution, his client had had a change of heart and was returning the dresses to their rightful owner, adding that CCTV footage was evidence of this.

The shoplifter has apologised for stealing three dresses worth over €3,000 each, claiming that he had no idea that the items were worth so much.

The magistrate in view of the fact that the stolen items had been returned, the court sentenced him to 16 months incarceration, suspended for three years.

Ivljanin is expected to fly back to Serbia tomorrow.