Three Years In: The Tale of the Biskuttini Bandit

In the heart of Malta’s bustling Rabat, a man walked into a bakery on a seemingly ordinary day. Little did he know, his actions would land him in jail for the next three years. The crime? Stealing a bag of biskuttini and a modest sum of cash.

Biskuttini Bandit: The Crime

On that fateful day in 2018, the man, later identified as 35-year-old Joseph Xuereb, entered the popular bakery, Il-Forno, on Triq San Pawl in Rabat. CCTV footage showed him snatching a bag of biskuttini, traditional Maltese biscuits, and €50 from the till. The bakery owner, a local woman in her sixties, was left shocked and outraged.

Xuereb’s crime might have seemed trivial, but it was the final straw. He had a string of petty theft convictions and had been given a chance after chance. This time, the court decided, enough was enough.

Justice Served: The Trial

The trial was swift and decisive. Xuereb pleaded guilty, admitting to the theft. The court heard how he had been struggling with addiction and had resorted to theft to feed his habit. The judge, however, was unsympathetic. “Your actions have caused distress and financial loss to the victim,” she said, sentencing him to three years in prison.

The case sparked a debate in Malta about the severity of punishment for petty crimes. Some argued that Xuereb’s sentence was too harsh, while others felt it was a necessary deterrent.

Life Behind Bars: The Aftermath

Xuereb is serving his time at the Corradino Correctional Facility. Life behind bars has been tough, he admits in a letter to Hot Malta. “I never thought I’d end up here over a bag of biskuttini,” he writes. “I’m paying the price for my mistakes, and I hope my story serves as a lesson to others.”

Meanwhile, the bakery owner has moved on. She’s installed a new, more secure till and keeps a close eye on her stock. “I’ve learned to be more vigilant,” she says. “But I also hope Joseph finds the help he needs when he’s out.”

Xuereb is due for release next year. He plans to turn his life around, find a job, and make amends. “I just want to put this behind me and start fresh,” he writes.

As for the biskuttini, they remain a beloved Maltese treat. You can still find them at Il-Forno in Rabat, where they’re baked fresh every day. But remember, they’re not worth stealing for.