Man charged with stealing €16,000 in cash from parked car denied bail

A man accused of stealing €16,000 in cash from a parked car in Santa Venera has been denied bail.

Josef Farrugia, 39, from Hamrun was accused of aggravated theft before magistrate Donatella Frendo Dimech.

The theft took place on 15 April from Triq il Kbira San Guzepp in St Venera at around 5pm.

Farrugia, who has a colourful criminal record, pleaded not guilty and requested bail.

Bail was objected to by the prosecution, as the police know who the man’s accomplice is and that person was currently on the run.

His lawyer Jason Grima replied, telling the court that the evidence is already preserved in a magisterial inquiry and that the accused should answer for what he’s done, not for someone else’s wrongdoing.

The accused had got out of prison a year and a half ago after spending 14 years behind bars. He has a drug problem and needs help, said his lawyer, suggesting a treatment order if bail were to be given.

The court, however, observed that the man’s voluminous criminal record “didn’t give much comfort”, opting instead to remand the man in custody at this stage.

Police Inspectors Stacy Attard and Mario Xiberras prosecuted.