Mugger jailed for five years, loses €14,000 in fines and bail bonds

A court has jailed a violent criminal for five years, fined him €6,200 and confiscated €8,000 in bail guarantees after finding him guilty of mugging seven people at knifepoint, stealing cash and mobile phones.

The charges, 18 in all, faced by Libyan national Khaled Madmoud Abulkasem, included breaching two sets of bail conditions, attacking police officers, escaping from custody and stealing their handcuffs and pepper spray during the period between October 2015 and January 2016.

In a sitting before Magistrate Joe Mifsud today, Abulkasem pleaded guilty to the charges and apologised for his actions.

The mugger was jailed for five years and a half, and fined €6,200 for the charges. The court ordered the man's two bail guarantees, totalling €8,000, also be confiscated.

The court also ordered the accused undergo psychiatric treatment.

Inspector James Grech prosecuted. Lawyer Victor Bugeja was defence counsel.