More than 23 years after having fled Malta to escape justice, a man was yesterday jailed for three years after he was found guilty of a number of crimes, including beating up a disabled man in September 1981.

Magistrate Silvio Meli jailed Mario Calleja, 47, from Valletta, for three years after he was found guilty of beating up Joseph Seychell on 25 September 1981. Calleja was re-arrested in January this year when he returned to Malta and his case was re-heard from scratch.

Calleja was charged with robbing Mr Seychell of Lm515 in cash, a necklace and a bracelet worth Lm150. He was also charged with beating up and slightly injuring Mr Seychell at 11pm on 25 September 1981 in Old Bakery Street in Valletta.

Calleja was further charged with stealing a car in December 1976 and a shotgun to the detriment of Francis Vella from Mosta, receiving stolen goods, being in possession of a shotgun during the commission of a crime and being in possession of an unlicensed weapon. He was finally charged with relapsing.

Calleja was charged along with Raymond Magri, also 47 and also from Valletta. On 25 October 1983, the police requested the court to order the accused to undergo separate proceedings but later, Calleja fled Malta and only Magri’s case continued.

On 20 January this year, the court was informed that Calleja had returned to Malta and was arrested and his case continued 23 years later.

The court heard how Calleja and Magri were driving in Valletta on the day in question. Brandishing a shotgun, they stopped Mr Seychell, who is disabled, “savagely” beat him up and stole an envelope containing cash as well as his necklace and bracelet.

The victim recognised Calleja, nicknamed Id-Dubbiena, because of an image of a fly he had tattooed on his forehead which made him easily identifiable.

The court heard that Calleja denied that he had ever been involved in the said incident and that he was in the car that day because he was being given a lift home. Magistrate Meli said the defendant’s version did not hold water especially because the victim had identified him thanks to the tattoo on his forehead. Moreover, the policemen who arrived on scene during the incident also identified Calleja.

Magistrate Meli found Calleja guilty of all the charges brought against him and jailed him for three years. He ordered that the time he spent in preventive custody on this case be reduced from the jail term.

Police inspector Carmelo Magri prosecuted.