Two suspended sentences in three days for Romanian thief

A Romanian man has been handed a suspended sentence after he admitted to charges of theft and handling goods stolen from a Sliema fashion outlet, just three days after receiving another suspended sentence for theft.

Barbu Costica, 33, was arraigned by police Inspector Jason Sultana before duty magistrate Carol Peralta this afternoon, charged with stealing ten items of clothing, worth a total of €344, from a Diesel outlet in Sliema, earlier this month. Costica had been handed a suspended sentence on Monday for stealing perfumes.

Magistrate Peralta commented on the difficulties recent thefts were causing to local businesses, saying that they was a result of organised crime.

Costica was jailed for one year, suspended for two, after the court took into consideration the fact that the accused had refunded the shop owners and had cooperated with the police. 

Lawyer Roberto Montalto appeared for Costica.