The installing of a number of card-skimming devices has earned a man a stay at Corradino prisons.

32 year-old Stoyan Gerginov Oryashkov from Bulgaria appeared in the dock before magistrate Joe Mifsud this morning. Oryashkov had been caught by the police after ATM CCTV footage showed him installing 3 card-skimming devices on ATMs in Paceville.

Inspector Matthew Vella charged the man with possession of objects used for fraud, computer misuse, unauthorised copying of personal data, possession of means to access computer data in an unauthorised manner, conspiracy to commit a crime and attempted fraud.

Card skimmers are illegal devices installed by criminals in ATM card input slots to read and copy data and PIN numbers from users withdrawing money from the machine. The information is then used to
clone the cards and make unauthorised withdrawals or is sold on the black market.

The defendant had been identified after police put together a picture that emerged from a number of pieces of footage from ATM CCTV cameras.

He was arrested on Wednesday on a bus stop, allegedly just as he was about to make his way to the airport to leave the country.

In court this morning, Oryashkov pleaded guilty to the charges. "Maltese people have a big heart," remarked the magistrate. "All are welcome here, but understand that when foreigners come to Malta they must abide by the laws of our country, criminal laws in particular."

In view of the man's early admission and cooperation with the police, he was jailed for two years.

Lawyer Victor Bugeja appeared as legal aid for the defendant.