Man with woman's bag raises policeman's suspicions

A police constable followed a Libyan man because he thought it was suspicious that he was carrying a woman's bag, and eventually arrested him and his friend for theft, a court heard yesterday.

PC Ryan Portelli told Magistrate Giovanni Grixti how he later learnt that the man had just stolen the bag from a German tourist and that his friend, also a Libyan, had taken off with the car belonging to the woman he lived with.

PC Portelli was testifying in the compilation of evidence against Abdul Baset Dabia, 37, of Hamrun.

Mr Dabia had originally been charged together with Ali Mustafa Kabes, 30, who was jailed for eight months after he admitted to theft.

Mr Dabia is pleading not guilty to inciting Mr Kabes to steal, to the theft of the car belonging to Anna Spiteri, whom he lived with, driving without a licence and relapsing.

PC Portelli recounted that he followed Mr Kabes and saw him approach a parked car and throw the bag under the vehicle.

Inside the car, which did not have a valid licence, was Mr Dabia. When the constable asked Mr Dabia to move the car, he said he did not have the keys as he had started it by sparking two wires.

It eventually resulted that the car belonged to Ms Spiteri, who had not authorised Mr Dabia to take her car.

Police Inspector Romina Veneziani prosecuted.

Lawyer Daniela Mangion appeared for Mr Dabia.