Convicted criminal Alfred Bugeja, 58, of Valletta, known as il-Porporina, and Clive Agius, 29 of Floriana, today were found guilty of breaking into a warehouse in Santa Venera and stealing various items. They were given 33-month and 39-month jail terms respectively.

The court heard the testimony of Johann Cuschieri who happened to be buying bread from a bakery close to his uncle’s warehouse in Canon Street, Santa Venera when the crime was unfolding in 2008. He told the court that he spotted two individuals stepping out of a Kia van and approaching the door of his uncle’s warehouse and opening the padlock. On seeing this, he immediately informed his uncle.

His uncle is understood to have told his nephew to stay in the area and if possible to speak to them in a bid to keep them there until he arrived at the scene.

At this point, Cuschieri decided to take a picture of the registration plate of the vehicle while trying to observe what was going on inside the warehouse. The minute he approached the door of the warehouse, Cuschieri came face to face with two persons who were on their way out – one was tall and the other one short. In a bid to find out if the two men knew his uncle, Cuschieri asked the two to give them the mobile number of his uncle. The two tried to convince Cuschieri that the mobile number was written on a piece of paper which was inside the van. But the tall person could not find the number in the van after Cuchieri’s persistence.

When the two were about to leave the scene, Cuschieri noticed that they had euro coin starter packs inside the van. At this point, Cuschieri’s uncle arrived at the scene and noticed a number of items had gone missing from his warehouse, but the two men had already driven off.

The police were immediately informed and soon after intercepted the van.

Police found 131 batches of euro coins in the vehicle. Agius cooperated with the police and led them to his garage in Qormi where the stolen objects had been placed. The total value of the stolen items was of about €900.

Cuschieri was asked to identify the two at the depot, which he did. He also identified them in court. Bugeja denied involvement in the burglary, but Agius came clean.

Bugeja has 52 previous convictions on a rap sheet 49 pages long. The crimes he has committed range from fraud, petty theft, aggravated theft, armed robbery and violent behaviour. 

Police Inspector Robert Vella prosecuted. Magistrate Ian Farrugia presided over the case.