A 32-year old man from St Julian’s plundered church collection boxes because he felt that since priests did not find it hard "to earn money" he didn’t care about stealing from them.
The man, Joseph Attard, pleaded guilty to stealing money from collection boxes in 19 churches and parish centres in two months, October and November, 1998. Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera sent him to jail for five years after he pleaded guilty to stealing various amounts of money.
Attard was also found guilty of stealing a Quick Cash card, defrauding Mid-Med bank, falsifying a signature and using the bank card without authorisation in November 1998.
However, he was not found guilty of stealing a car stereo and damaging a car.
According to a report drawn up by his probation officer, Attard had an unhappy childhood and spent considerable time in prison. The report also said that he came from an unstable family.
In a recommendation, the probation officer suggested to the court that Attard be given a suspended sentence, while ordering him to follow a residential rehabilitation programme.
But in handing down judgment, magistrate Scerri Herrera noted Attard’s criminal record and pointed out that he had been given various chances to reform.
Even though he was placed under probation, he still led a “criminal life” that led him to prison after he was found guilty of theft from various churches, she said.
Magistrate Scerri Herrera added that the court “does not believe that Attard wanted to change” and he had shown no remorse for his actions. In fact, when asked why he chose to steal from churches he replied: “I don’t know, but I know that priests don’t find it hard to earn money while normal people do, so I don’t care when I steal from priests.”
The court said it would not accept this arrogant reply and wanted to send a clear message that it would not show mercy to people who stole from churches.
As a result, magistrate Scerri Herrera jailed Attard for five years. The court also ordered Attard to pay Lm1,699 in court fees within a year.
Police superintendent Carmelo Bartolo and Police Inspector Simon Galea prosecuted.