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Man arrested for stealing from parked cars just after serving time for the same crime
Kaled Mukthar Ben Gamhur, from Libya, has appeared in court for the same charges, which he just served an eight-month sentence for
A thief who specialises in car thefts has appeared in court on charges of breaking into a number of vehicles, not long after serving an eight month sentence for similar crimes.
39-year-old Kaled Mukthar Ben Gamhur, from Libya, was arraigned under arrest before magistrate Antonio Vella this afternoon, accused of stealing a pair of sunglasses from a parked car in Valletta this morning and attempting to break into a second vehicle, causing damage to both.
Inspector Priscilla Caruana Lee explained that earlier today, the police received a report of a man attempting to force his way into two cars parked in Girolamo Cassar street in Valletta this morning.
When officers called at the scene, the man was found to be carrying a pair of designer sunglasses, which had been stolen from one of the vehicles.
Ben Gamhur has seven previous convictions, for crimes which include theft.
The accused’s brother had been jailed for 18 months for theft last week by Magistrate Caroline Farrugia Frendo, said the inspector.
The accused, who is unemployed and was assisted by legal aid lawyer Chris Chircop, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The prosecution objected to his lawyer’s request that the accused be released on bail. Witnesses were yet to testify, the man had no ties to the island and had several previous convictions, argued the inspector.
“This is not the first time that he has committed similar crimes. The accused doesn’t work and has no ties to Malta”
“I just got out of prison, how do you expect me to work?” interjected the accused, who became agitated as the sitting progressed.
The court turned down the defence’s request for bail saying that the accused did not offer the guarantees required by law.
Outside the courtroom, the accused’s agitation increased when told that he was going to be remanded in custody, having misunderstood the decree refusing bail.
“I stole nothing,” he said as he was restrained from returning to the courtroom to speak to the magistrate.
