Man accused of mugging jailed for bail breach

A man who was charged with carrying out a mugging last March has been jailed this morning for failing to observe his bail conditions.

Destiny Ogbiede, 32, had appeared before Magistrate Donatella Frendo Dimech on charges of aggravated theft in March. Amongst Ogbiede's bail conditions were orders that he sign a bail book daily at the Qawra Police Station and remain indoors between 11pm and 6am.

But police inspector Joseph Mercieca, prosecuting, told presiding magistrate Doreen Clarke that the accused had failed to turn up for a court sitting and had been spotted outside at 1:30am with a partner, in violation of his curfew.

The court noted that since his arraignment in March, he had only signed his bail book on four occasions, a fact which defence lawyer Josette Sultana attributed to his stay in Mt. Carmel Hospital.

She explained that Ogbiede had not understood that he was required to start signing his bail book again after his release from hospital. “The accused has psychiatric problems, nowhere to live and no money,” the lawyer said, adding that he had been released from his latest stint at Mt. Carmel only yesterday.

The court pointed out that he had not been in Mt. Carmel for the whole time since his arraignment and that he had also changed his place of residence without first informing the court.

The Nigerian defendant pleaded guilty to the charges brought against him and was jailed for four months.
The Court said it weighed the nature of the offence on the one hand against his co-operation with the police and his admission at the initial stages of the procedures. The Court also took into consideration the fact that the accused is afflicted by psychiatric problems.

The court ordered the confiscation of his €300 personal guarantee, also making a recommendation that the accused be treated at Mt. Carmel Hospital.