Lawyer speaks out against justice system's lack of support for ex-convicts

A lawyer defending a woman charged with small-time theft and fraud offences has railed against the present criminal justice system, saying it prevents ex-convicts from finding jobs.

Police Inspector Sandra Zammit arraigned the 42-year-old Maltese-Australian before magistrate Tonio Micallef Trigona this morning, charging her with stealing a cheque book, €930 in cash, using a false cheque for €729 to defraud a computer store, stealing a mobile phone and relapsing.

She pleaded not guilty, but did not request bail.

The woman appeared to be suffering from drug withdrawal symptoms as she fidgeted in the dock, running her trembling hands through her hair.

The woman’s lawyer, Peter Fenech, told the court that he had known the accused since she first came to Malta as a young girl, 30 years ago. “I regret to say that in this country, if you have a criminal record with certain convictions, you cannot find employment.” Fenech explained that he had also intervened on the woman’s behalf with the ETC to try and find her a job, but to no avail.

“She came out of prison and had no help. She was not entitled to relief as she had not worked before. How can we expect people to leave prison, deny them work and relief and expect them not to reoffend? They end up doing drugs, getting involved in prostitution and stealing, and I have repeatedly said this publicly and to the highest authorities.”

“She is better off in prison as she has no means of feeding herself outside.”

The magistrate remanded the woman in custody and ordered her to follow a treatment program.