Police vs Afewerki — Multiple Thefts and Card Fraud in Pieta and Hamrun

A man stole an iPhone, cash, bank cards and valuables from two victims in one evening, then used the stolen cards fraudulently. He pleaded guilty.

Court of Magistrates (Malta) — Criminal · Magistrate Dr. Ann Marie Thake LL.D. · 27 March 2026

On the evening of 22 February 2026, Yonathan Esseyas Afewerki stole an iPhone 12 Pro Max, cash, a German identity card, sunglasses, a wallet and two bank cards from Lara Kirchhoff along the Pieta waterfront. He also stole from Niamh Brigid McBride. That same evening he went to the National Lotteries outlet in Hamrun and stole cash again, then used the stolen bank cards fraudulently. Afewerki was charged with seven counts including qualified theft, receiving stolen goods, simple theft and fraudulent use of a stolen payment instrument. He entered an early guilty plea and cooperated with police. However, he already had a prior theft conviction — under Maltese law this means the sentence cannot be given at the minimum. The prosecution and defence agreed a sentence of three and a half years effective imprisonment was appropriate. The court accepted this. The court acquitted him on the two receiving stolen goods charges but convicted him on all others.

Guilty on theft and card fraud charges. Sentenced to 3 years and 6 months effective imprisonment. Acquitted on 2 receiving stolen goods charges.

• A prior theft conviction means the court cannot impose the minimum sentence on a new theft — repeat offenders face heavier penalties
• Using stolen bank cards is a separate criminal offence from the original theft itself
• An early guilty plea and cooperation with police are mitigating factors courts take into account at sentencing
• Multiple thefts in one evening are treated as separate charges and sentenced together

Criminal Code Ch. 9 Arts. 261, 267, 279, 284, 285, 310F — theft, receiving stolen goods, fraudulent use of payment instruments