A 28-year-old man from Macedonia was given a two year prison sentence suspended to four years and ordered to pay a fine of €58 after admitting to being in possession of a knife and a can of pepper spray.

Trajan Bodgaovski appeared before magistrate Marse-Ann Farrugia and admitted to, on 16 September, being in possession of a pointed object and a substance which causes irritation. Inspector Trevor Micallef who led the prosecution, said that the police was called at Sirk Road in Swieqi after receiving reports that two persons were trying to force open the door of a parked car.

The inspector explained that Bodgaovski could not be charged with attempted theft due to lack of evidence. The court heard how the accused used to live with his brother in Naxxar for the last couple of months and intended to go back to Macedonia in the coming days.

The magistrate ruled that the accused could not be believed when he explained that he was carrying a knife and pepper spray as he feared an attack. "Should that have been the case, the accused could have made a report to the police," the magistrate said.

Lawyer Benjamin Valenzia appeared for the accused.