Builder charged with theft

A 31-year-old man pleads not guilty and is remanded in custody

The court ordered the director of prisons to provide the man with assistance and treatment for his drug dependency problem
The court ordered the director of prisons to provide the man with assistance and treatment for his drug dependency problem

A builder has been remanded in custody after he was charged with theft and attempted aggravated theft.

Construction worker Omar Calleja, 31, from Gharghur was accused of attempted aggravated theft of items from a vehicle on 9 May and stealing tools from a house on 2 May. He was also accused of recidivism.

Prosecuting police inspector Stacy Attard told Magistrate Charmaine Galea that both alleged crimes took place in Hamrun.

After conferring with her client, lawyer Charmaine Cherrett, appearing as legal aid for the accused, told the court that the accused was pleading not guilty to the charges.

The accused has a drug dependency problem, she said, and was not requesting bail but was asking that the director of Corradino Correctional Facility provide the necessary assistance and treatment for the man whilst he was in his care.

The court upheld the request and ordered that this happen.