Open centre resident jailed for boozy mattress thefts

A court has jailed a Somali man who stole 15 mattresses from the Hal Far open centre, before selling them and then spent the proceeds on booze.

Abdul Nasir Abdullahi, 26, from Mogadishu, was arraigned before magistrate Joe Mifsud this morning, accused of aggravated theft, criminal damage, recidivism and trespassing onto private property.
 Abdullahi told the court that he lives in “Hal Far tent city” and was unemployed.

Inspector Charlotte Curmi, prosecuting, explained that Abdullahi had been arrested after he had stolen 15 mattresses from the open centre and sold them.

The defendant had previous convictions, the court was told, by way of explanation for the recidivism charge.

Asked what he would be pleading, the accused readily admitted the charges, immediately replying: “Guilty. I am guilty, yes.”

Magistrate Mifsud explained that his punishment would be imprisonment and asked him whether he wished to change his plea in the light of this. The accused confirmed his admission. “You admitted, that's a bonus.”

In view of the guilty plea, the early admission, and the recidivism he was handed a one-year effective prison sentence.

Lawyer Martin Fenech was legal aid.