Lorenzo Buttigieg, who had been found guilty of thefts previously, had been sentenced to community service at the Conventual Church of St John the Baptist in Valletta. While serving here he dared to steal two silver candelabra from the chapel of Our Lady of Filermos. He was sentenced to public hanging.

Francesco Lia and his accomplices are accused of breaking into the Church of Saint John the Baptist, taking off his shoes so as not to make noise, and stealing a silver chandelier from the Chapel of Our Lady of Philermos. He was sentenced to public flagellation and ten years' rowing on the Order's galleys.