30 year old Michael Ellul has been sentenced to 14 months jail, suspended for four years after being found guilty of falsifying documents and forging another individual's signature on cheques, as well as for handling stolen items.

Back in 2003, Charmaine Busuttil reported that her handbag, holding her mobile phone and her cheque book were stolen from her car.  A few weeks after, Clint Buttigieg, reported that his identity card was stolen.

After police followed reports of suspected theft by Michael Ellul and Antoine Spiteri, police found two stolen identity cards and a cheque book in Antoine Spiteri's vehicle. 

In court, Michael Ellul, admitted that he filled in one of the cheques, addressing it to Clint Buttigieg, amounting to €77, and was about to deposit the cheque at Rahal Gdid, however he changed his mind, thinking he would be recognized as not being Buttigieg.

The accused however was acquitted from the thefts, with the court ruling there was not enough evidence that it was him who stole the items.

During compilation of evidence, the accused was charged with another three thefts.

Magistrate Marseann Farrugia presided.