A 26-year-old policeman was yesterday found not guilty to stealing a GPS naval instrument from a boat, which had carried irregular migrants to Wied iz-Zurrieq, Qrendi on 27 October 2006.

The court, presided over by magistrate Antonio Mizzi, heard how Stephen Saydon, from Zurrieq, had been arrested after he was suspected of stealing the instrument while on duty.

After releasing three statements, he admitted to handing over the instrument to Mario Farrugia. Later Mr Saydon said he had admitted because he was feeling under pressure.

The court then heard Mr Farrugia deny that Mr Saydon had given him the instrument, saying that he found it on the rocks.

Another witness, Sander D’Amato, testified that he gave the instrument he found on the rocks to the police, however, not to Mr Saydon.

Magistrate Mizzi said he was freeing Mr Saydon on account of the conflicting nature of the evidence presented in court.Police Inspector Christopher Pullicino and Mario Haber prosecuted while lawyer Franco Debono was defence counsel to Mr Saydon.