A 35-year-old man was acquitted of handling a stolen revolver; however, he was fined Lm100 for owning a revolver without a police license.

In handing down her judgement, magistrate Audrey Demicoli held that the prosecution failed to prove without reasonable doubt that Victor Buttigieg, from Naxxar, was in possession of a stolen revolver.

It heard how during the course of investigations regarding thefts in Mosta and Saint Paul’s Bay, Police Inspector Carmelo Magri came to know of a man who sold a revolver to Buttigieg, who immediately admitted owning the weapon and handed it over to the police.

It was never proven that the weapon had been stolen by the first man and therefore acquitted Buttigieg of handling stolen property. However, he was found guilty of possessing a revolver and ammunition without a police license and of relapsing.

Police Inspector Carmelo Magri prosecuted while Dr Franco Debono appeared for the accused.