A four year prison term handed to a thief was confirmed after th court delivered the minimum applicable punishment.
The man who had admitted to committing five hold ups in Zebbug between 2010 and 2011, had his appeal thrown out and a four year prison term confirmed.
53-year-old Emanuel Bartolo, had admitted to stealing from De Rohan Pharmacy, Santa Maria Pharmacy, The Crop Seller Green Grocer, Intimate underwear Shop and Patrizio Hair Studio. All four commercial outlets were in Zebbug. During all four hold ups, Bartolo carried an unlicensed weapon. In March last year the Court of Magistrates handed him a four year jail term.
The court of appeal heard how Bartolo, deaf mute from birth, had a right to have his sentence reduced by a third. Further more he is mentally unable to reason like a man of his age, he admitted his guilt and fully cooperated with the police. The convicted permanently resides at Mount Carmel Hospital.
Mr Justice Michael Mallia declared the court of magistrates had taken all this into consideration and imposed the minimum punishment. The court rejected the appeal and confirmed the four year jail term previously handed to Emanuel Bartolo.