Egyptian youth charged with stealing bus driver's bag

An Egyptian youth has been released on bail this morning after he pleaded not guilty to stealing a bus driver’s bag from her bus in Fgura yesterday.

The 17 year-old, who cannot be named on account of his age, was arrested yesterday afternoon after the driver’s bag was found in his accommodation at Dar il-Liedna, a residential home offering accommodation and social care services to asylum-seeking unaccompanied minors and families with children.

Inspector Robert Said Sarreo, prosecuting, informed magistrate Anthony Vella that the accused had given a different name to police upon his arrest - a fact which the boy’s social worker told the court, was down to a cultural misunderstanding.

Defence lawyer Victor Bugeja entered a plea of not guilty and requested bail.

The court acceded to this request, granting the man bail against a personal guarantee of €1,000, also placing him under a provisional supervision order.