Birzebbugia mechanic denied bail on multiple theft charges

A court has remanded a Birzebbugia mechanic in custody this afternoon, after he was arraigned before it on multiple charges of theft and attempted theft from cars and at least one residence.

51-year-old Joseph Portelli, originally from Australia but living in Birzebbuga, pleaded not guilty to stealing cash from two cars and stealing jewellery from a residence, as well as six charges of attempted theft from cars, relapsing and committing a crime during the operative term of a suspended sentence.

Portelli had been found guilty of similar offences last February, for which he had received a suspended sentence. 

Portelli’s lawyer Abigail Bugeja told Magistrate Marseann Farrugia that he was a spendthrift who was encountering severe difficulty in managing his finances just to make ends meet. Being remanded in custody would only compound his financial woes by preventing him from working, she said.

Police Inspector Roderick Agius, for the prosecution, however pointed out that Portelli had been found guilty of similar charges a few months prior and had not made use of the second chance which the court had afforded him.

The court agreed with the prosecution, holding that Portelli had demonstrated that he could not be trusted and if released, he would be at risk of reoffending. Portelli was remanded in custody.