Mercy shown to maid charged with stealing employer’s jewellery

A maid who faced up to seven years in prison for stealing jewellery from a house she worked in was today handed a lifeline by a magistrate as she was handed an opportunity to reform and instead given a suspended jail term.

Brenda Orsini, 49, of Senglea, admitted to stealing two gold necklaces from a house in Swieqi, and to selling the gold to a jeweller in Valletta.

The theft occurred on Saturday morning when the accused was working in a house in Triq il-Pedidalwett, Swieqi. Sources explained that, upon realising that her necklaces had gone missing, the victim phoned the police. The accused was subsequently brought in for questioning and admitted to stealing the jewellery.

Moreover, Orsini informed the police where she had sold the necklaces and also returned the money she had received.

In her decree, presided Magistrate Charmaine Galea argued that notwithstanding the serious nature of the charges, punishment should be mitigated because the accused had cooperated with the police and had a clean criminal record.

While warning the accused of the consequences were she to relapse, Magistrate Galea handed Orsini an 18 month jail term suspended for three years.

Orsini was also placed under a supervision order for three years and ordered not to approach the victim.

 Police Inspectors Fabian Fleri and Carol Fabri prosecuted.