A 41-year-old man has been placed under a three-year probation and treatment order after admitting to taking cash that had been left behind at an ATM in Ħamrun.

Driss Smaini from Morocco, was identified and arrested after a report was filed with police on 18 May. 

The victim told officers that four days earlier he had attempted to withdraw money from an ATM in Triq il-Kbira San Ġużepp, Ħamrun, but mistakenly believed the transaction had failed. 

Following checks with his bank, the victim discovered that the money had in fact been dispensed and debited from his account.

Investigators reviewed CCTV footage from the ATM, which showed another man taking the cash that had been left in the machine. Although the suspect was not immediately identified, police later recognised him while on patrol in Marsa after noticing he was wearing the same clothing and carrying the same bag seen in the footage. Smaini was subsequently arrested. 

Smaini admitted to the charges, with the prosecution informing the court that he had already repaid the victim in full.

In sentencing, the court noted the accused's early guilty plea, his clean criminal record and the fact that the stolen money had been returned. 

Taking into account his personal circumstances and the need for rehabilitation, the court placed Smaini under a three-year probation order together with a treatment order to address his alcohol dependency.