[MSN] Malta. Man jailed for storing stolen paintings

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Man jailed for storing stolen paintings 
By MaltaMedia News
Jul 17, 2006, 19:18 CET
 
A 34-year-old man from Kalkara was jailed four years on Monday after being found guilty of storing a number of stolen paintings in a garage in Birkirkara. The paintings, among them a work of art by Caravaggio, belong to Judge Giovanni Bonello and were stolen from his Valletta residence in April 2004. 

Initially, the accused, Joseph Portelli denied that he had stowed away the stolen paintings in the garage however he later admitted his involvement in hiding them. However, Portelli denied he was involved in the actual theft and was cleared of stealing the paintings in question. 

Magistrate Jacqueline Padovani sentenced the man to 4 years in prison. Although the crime carries a maximum sentence of 11 years, the Court took into consideration that Portelli admitted that he had stowed away the paintings. 

Portelli was also found guilty of causing the paintings up to Lm500 worth of damages.

The accused has appealed against the sentence. 

In turn, 69-year-old woman Concetta Camilleri was jailed two years suspended for four years, after being found guilty of stealing Lm 10,000 ($29, 175, €23,292) in cash. The woman stole the money from a house she used to work in as a maid, throughout a number of weeks in 2002.

The woman was caught after the theft was filmed. The film revealed that she took the money after pulling it out from behind a sofa where it was hidden. 


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Another arraignment after recovery of paintings 
By MaltaMedia News
May 7, 2004, 15:05 CET
 
The police have arraigned a second man in connection with the theft of priceless paintings from the residence of Judge Giovanni Bonello some weeks ago. Ian Farrugia, 30, from Sta Venera, was arraigned on Friday morning. Last week Joseph Portelli, aged 32 from Birkirkara, was arraigned and accused of the same theft.

Farrugia was accused that in the week before the 5 April 2004, himself and unknown third parties broke in 129, Old Bakery Street in Valletta and stole paintings and other objects whose value amount to more than Lm1,000. 

Farrugia pleaded not guilty and was remanded in custody, where he will join Portelli until the trial begins.

The police are expected to arraign more persons in connection with the theft. 

Judge Bonello's 30 paintings, 26 antique coins and 21 antique medals stolen and then recovered in a garage at Birkirkara. They are now in custody at the National Arts Museum until they can be returned to their proprietor. The paintings include original Caravaggio and Preti masterpieces. 

http://www.maltamedia.com/