Couple wakes up to find drunken man looting their home

A couple from Swieqi woke in the middle of the night to find a drunken Libyan looting their home. They detained the man until police officers arrived at the scene, a court heard yesterday.

The case took place at around 3.30am yesterday, in Swieqi Road. 25-year-old Walid Ben Muftah, who was released from prison some weeks ago, yesterday pleaded not guilty to stealing three rings, a laptop, two cameras and a pair of earrings from the family.

Inspector Nikolai Sant, prosecuting, said the couple were awoken by strange noises in their house and found the accused wandering about with a torch. They pinned him down until officers arrived and arrested him. It is understood that the accused was intoxicated and told investigators he could not remember anything.

The man, who is also wanted by the Swedish authorities, was also charged with possession of two knives and relapsing.

Legal aid lawyer Chris Chircop requested bail, saying that the accused has lived in Malta since 2011 and owns a place in Birżebbuġa. Inspector Sant objected, saying that this was a serious case and the accused did not merit bail. “This man broke into a family’s home in the middle of the night. These things cannot be tolerated.”

He also pointed out that the accused claimed to live in Birżebbuġa but could not even remember the address.

The court, presided over by Magistrate Ian Farrugia denied bail, saying that the accused was untrustworthy and had no permanent links with Malta.