A 29-year-old man was yesterday cleared of theft after the main evidence brought against him, his own fingerprint, was not held to accuse him beyond reasonable doubt.

Anton Vassallo, from Zabbar, was cleared of stealing cash and other objects from the Four Ts Bar in Ghaxaq on February 3, 2001. He was also accused of handling stolen property, damaging the bar and relapsing.

The police presented a fingerprint found on a packet of cigarettes inside the bar which matched with Mr Vassallo's thumb. The court, presided over by magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera, heard how the man frequented the bar, especially to order take-away food.

The magistrate cleared Mr Vassallo of all the charges brought against him on the grounds that the fingerprint could not, beyond reasonable doubt, prove his guilt.

Police Inspector Carmelo Magri prosecuted while Dr Franco Debono was defence counsel.