A 24-year-old man who was yesterday charged with involvement in a hold-up at a Sliema store told a magistrate that the charge was a "frame-up".

Steve Spiteri, who is a prison inmate, yesterday appeared in court under arrest and was charged with stealing cash and stamps from Old College Self Service Store in Sliema, holding people at the store against their will and the possession of a firearm on July 14 at about 2.45 p.m.

He was also charged with stealing a car earlier that day, driving it without an insurance cover and relapsing.

Mr Spiteri pleaded not guilty to the charges and was remanded in custody.

When the arraignment seemed to be over Mr Spiteri's lawyer informed Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera that the prison authorities had stopped his client's mother from visiting him in jail as she was a witness in this case.

At that point Mr Spiteri, who was standing by the side of the court room, was heard mumbling something.

When Magistrate Scerri Herrera asked him what he was going on about, Mr Spiteri said this was "another frame-up" by the police.

The young man remained calm as he told the magistrate that he was angry at the situation. He spoke vaguely about another court case in which he had testified against another man who, though innocent, was now serving time.

Magistrate Scerri Herrera then ordered the police to call Mr Spiteri's mother to the witness stand in the first sitting and recommended that the prison authorities allow him to speak to his relatives under adequate supervision.

Police Inspector Joseph Mercieca prosecuted.

Lawyer Michael Sciriha appeared for Mr Spiteri.