Sicilian Pizzaiolo released on bail, pays €1,000 deposit in cash

A Sicilian pizzaiolo has been released on bail after he appeared in court, charged with breaking into six parked vehicles in the Bahar ic-Caghaq area over the last two weeks of August.

Inspector Luke Bonello arraigned 37-year-old Sebastiano Violante before magistrate Charmaine Galea this morning, on six counts of aggravated theft and criminal damage, together with one count each of simple theft, breaching the conditions of a suspended sentence and relapsing.

Defence lawyer Arthur Azzopardi entered a not guilty plea and requested bail for his client, arguing that if the accused had any intention of absconding, he would have done so the moment he had been handed his suspended sentence.

There was no risk of tampering with evidence, the defence submitted, because a parked car has no indication of who its owner is. “Had the police found a list of number plates or evidence that he had ties to Transport Malta, it would have been a different matter. Naturally, if he is found guilty, there will be the civil aspect of the damage for which he must pay. The cash seized from his wallet by the police already covers this.”

When deciding on bail, the lawyer said, the court must decide whether the accused could continue to work or be held in prison, lose his job and eventually leave prison unable to leave Malta. “He will not have money to pay for rent, what do you think will happen then?”

Violante was released on bail against a personal guarantee of €5,000 and a deposit of €1,000. The court authorised the release of €1,000 in cash from the man's wallet, which had been sealed in an evidence bag.