Bird thief given one-year prison term

Magistrate Giovanni Grixti sentenced Oglive Grima, 22 from Kalkara to a one-year prison term, ordering the forfeiture of the €5,000 the youth had deposited as personal guarantee in a previous case.

The court heard how on the afternoon of 7 May, Grima stole four birds and other objects which value does not exceed €2,329.37 from a farm in Carmel Street Fgura. He was also accused of handling stolen property and relapsing. The youth pleaded guilty to the charges.

Magistrate Giovanni Grixti explained to the accused that in a previous and separate case in April, another magistrate had granted him bail against a deposit of €5,000 on condition that he does not commit another crime whilst out on bail.

The youth was sentenced for a year in prison and the €5000 deposit was forfeited to the courts.