Court vacates first-instance verdict due to statute of limitations expiration, dismissing appeal on facts.

The appellate court vacated the first-instance verdict finding the defendants guilty of theft and ordered the prosecution to discontinue the proceedings. Although the defendants argued that the trial violated evidence evaluation rules and contained factual errors, the court found the first-instance findings of guilt to be well-founded based on the evidence. Consequently, the court dismissed the appeal on the merits but terminated the case because the statute of limitations for prosecution had expired.