Domestic cleaner charged with stealing €10,000 worth of jewellery from client

A domestic cleaner from Qormi has denied pilfering €10,000 worth of jewellery from a family that employed her.

41-year-old Mary Aquilina appeared before magistrate Doreen Clarke this afternoon, accused of aggravated theft. She was also charged with recidivism, having been sentenced in the past.

Inspector Godwin Scerri explained how the woman had, on a regular basis between July and August this year, allegedly stolen small amounts of gold items from an Mgarr house which she would clean.

The items stolen are understood to have been worth some €10,360.

The accused, small in stature, face gaunt and with fingernails well chewed, quietly pleaded not guilty to the charges. Lawyer Michael Sciriha told the court that she was undergoing marital separation proceedings.

The court granted the accused bail, the prosecuting officer saying he had no objection, as long as the necessary guarantees were imposed.

Aquilina was warned not to approach her husband or other witnesses, or miss court sittings. She was ordered to sign a bail book twice a week and give a personal guarantee of €2,000.