A PAINTER AND decorator from Limassol was yesterday handed a nine-month suspended sentence after pleading guilty to charges of theft and fraud.
The 38-year-old man had pleaded guilty to stealing an £8,000 cheque from a car in Nicosia and then changing the name on the cheque before attempting to deposit the sum into his parent’s account at a bank.
State Prosecutor Marios Koutsoftas highlighted the events surrounding the theft.
“On May 3, 2003, a man had filed a complaint to Nicosia CID saying that on the day in question, somebody had stolen a £8,000 cheque from his car. Four months later employees at a bank in Nicosia went to Nicosia CID and reported a suspect who had gone to them and attempted to deposit an £8,000 cheque into the account of his parents”, explained Koutsoftas.
He added that “the suspect was led to believe that the cheque had been deposited. After bank employees carefully examined the document it was discovered that the cheque was forged and had been recently stolen.”
The man was immediately arrested and he confessed to the crime saying “I did it, it was wrong and I apologise to everyone for what I have done.”
Defence attorney Pavlos Efthymiou pleaded with Judge Lemonia Kaoutzani to show leniency when passing sentence on his client.
“Your honour, my client is deeply sorry for what he has done. At the time of the theft he was going through serious psychological, family and financial problems in his life. He is divorced with three young children and not only does he have to pay £250 per month in child support but he also has to pay £650 per month towards the mortgage of his old house.
“That is because his ex-wife is now with a Syrian man who cannot support the children so therefore my client is paying for their housing.”
Judge Kaoutzani said the charges were very serious but took into account the fact that he immediately admitted his guilt, his tough financial troubles and the fact that the cheque was never actually deposited.
“It is therefore the court’s decision that the accused serve a nine-month suspended sentence and be placed on probation for three years.”
