Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/528426
8 maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 17 JUNE 2015 News Probation for hoax bomb-threat caller 22-year-old was charged with filing a false police report and the misuse of communication devices in 2013 MATTHEW AGIUS A 22-year-old man who suffers from a mental health condition has been sentenced to three years' probation after he admitted mak- ing an anonymous bomb threat at an entertainment club two years ago. Inspector Geoffrey Azzopardi charged the man with filing a false police report and misuse of com- munication devices on 3 May, 2013, when he had made an anonymous phone call to the police, claiming that a bomb had been placed at Numero Uno Club in Ta' Qali. The accused had told Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera that, on the day in question, he had gone to photograph the celebrations of the feast of St Joseph in Rabat. Once he was there, he had used a public telephone box to call the emergency services and make the false report, hanging up when asked to supply his details. However, the accused then walked up to a policeman who was near the church of Ta' Giezu, asking him what the chances were that someone who had made an anonymous phone call from a tel- ephone box would be caught. The accused showed contrition, admitting that it was a bad deci- sion to try and pull that prank, adding that it was the first time he had done so. The court found the man guilty on both charges. After noting that the crimes were committed on the spur of the moment and taking into account the accused's youth and clean criminal record, the court placed him on probation for three years. Lawyer Arthur Azzopardi de- fended the accused. Food thieves granted bail Salesman Jonathan Abela, 32, was charged with theft and misappropriation, while 52-year- old George Lanzon was charged with conspiracy to commit theft and receiving stolen goods MATTHEW AGIUS TWO Mosta men were released on bail in separate arraignments after they were brought before magistrate Francesco Depas- quale, charged in connection with the theft and handling of stolen foodstuffs from importer Valh- mor Borg. Salesman Jonathan Abela, 32, was charged with theft and mis- appropriation, while 52-year-old George Lanzon was charged with conspiracy to commit theft and receiving stolen goods. The two had reached an agree- ment that Abela would steal the products from his employer and sell them to Lanzon for half the price. Abela would then pocket the entire sum paid. The company had reported the thefts to the po- lice after noting discrepancies be- tween stock turnover and profits and CCTV footage confirmed the sales had taken place. Lanzon's lawyer, Veronique Dalli, requested bail for her client, pointing out that he had a clean police conduct and was a first- time offender. The court granted the two men bail against a personal guarantee of €10,000, ordering them to sign a bail book and not to approach witnesses. The case continues in two weeks' time. 72% see drones as a threat to privacy JAMES DEBONO THREE quarters of the Maltese regard drones as a threat to pri- vacy, a Eurobarometer survey on the use of robots shows. The Maltese are more likely to regard drones as a threat to privacy than other Europeans but are more likely to consid- er drones an efficient way to transport and deliver goods. The survey shows that two- thirds of respondents (66%) of all Europeans (75% in Malta) feel that civil drones pose a threat to privacy. But while 72% of respondents in Malta regard drones as an ef- ficient way to transport goods, only 57% of respondents in all EU member states have the same opinion. Malta is one of five Member States where at least a fifth of respondents have seen a civil drone operating in real life: Luxembourg (27%), the Nether- lands (26%), Malta (24%), Den- mark (21%) and Sweden (21%). But elsewhere, relatively few respondents have witnessed the operation of drones, such as in Cyprus (2%) and Greece (1%). The survey also reveals that the Maltese are the least com- fortable in the EU with having a medical operation performed on them by a robot. Only 12% of the Maltese feel comfort- able, compared to 41% of Poles and Dutch respondents. The survey shows that 73% of Maltese and 61% of all EU re- spondents are uncomfortable travelling in an autonomous driverless car.