Long, inflexible arm of the law

IN 2007, 22-year-old Emilia Soria, found a wallet with a credit card and ID.

Emilia, who lives in Requena used them to buy food and nappies for her two daughters.

She spent €200 without arousing suspicions at a local supermarket.  When she returned later, this time spending €250, staff were by now distrustful, and rejected the card. 

Emilia decided to try another supermarket where was she was held and later arrested.  She received a 22 month prison sentence for appropriating and using the credit card.  She also received a six month sentence for “continued fraud” which was later substituted with a €900 fine and six months community service.

But despite the sentence being reduced she will still go to prison, as the original jail term exceeded two years, the maximum for a suspended sentence.