Man remanded in custody after alleged fuel theft

A Romanian man was remanded in custody today after allegedly being seen in the act of stealing fuel from a parked truck.

Inspector James Grech told a court presided by Magistrate Giovanni Grixti how, on 7 September at around 10 pm, 28 year-old Nicusor Bigu from Romania was observed stealing fuel from a parked truck in Santa Venera.

The truck’s owner reportedly saw this take place and gave chase but did not succeed in apprehending the culprit. In making good his escape, the accused is reported to have driven the wrong way around a roundabout in his BMW, damaging another vehicle in the process.

The accused was later apprehended by the police as he attempted to board a catamaran using the same vehicle.

The prosecution opposed bail, on the grounds that the accused had no ties with Malta and was a flight risk.

Lawyer Robert Montaldo, representing Bigu, told the court that the accused was not trying to escape from Malta, but had simply booked the catamaran trip some time before, adding that Bigu was not a flight risk as he has family in Malta. Montaldo further pointed out that there are routine conditions that can be imposed on the accused to prevent him absconding, such as the depositing of his passport in court.

The court however upheld the prosecution’s request and denied bail until the prosecution witnesses could be heard. Inspector Grech informed the court that the BMW would be exhibited as evidence at a later stage and consequently the court also upheld his request to retain it in police custody until then.