Man who quit heroin whilst in prison admits to robbing shops

A man with previous convictions for possession of hard drugs has this morning admitted to robbing two shops.

Victor Buttigieg, 44, of Naxxar, appeared under arrest before magistrate Gabriella Vella. Police Inspectors Carlos Cordina and Robert Vella accused the man of robbing a beauty salon in Dingli on 31 January and a grocery store in Mtarfa the following night. He was also charged with attempting to rob the Labour Party band club in Bahrija that night and with relapsing.

Buttigieg, who is already serving time for heroin possession, was charged with theft, aggravated by means, time and value.

No details of how the crimes were committed or how the accused was arrested emerged in today's arraignment, but it is thought that Buttigieg may have committed the crimes whilst on prison leave.

The accused had been jailed for six years and fined €4,000 in 2015 for aggravated possession of heroin.

Defence lawyer Mario Mifsud and the prosecuting officers informed the court that the man had agreed to plead guilty.

The prosecution requested the court grant it another sitting to submit evidence to support its request to find him liable for the costs of appointing experts in the inquiry.  

Mifsud asked that in its eventual sentence, the court recommend that the man be placed on a drug rehabilitation programme. “Before he went to prison he was on drugs. He stopped taking drugs whilst in prison. We are asking for this to prevent the eventuality of him relapsing,” the lawyer explained.

The court will pass sentence on 27 March. Buttigieg is to remain in prison in the interim.