Two charged with bag snatching

Two men were remanded in custody after pleading not guilty to snatching the handbag of a 75-year-old British woman as she was walking in Marsascala on Friday evening.

Allister Camilleri, 27, and Anthony Cutajar, 37, both of Hamrun, pleaded not guilty to stealing the woman's handbag. The woman sustained slight injuries when she fell to the ground as her handbag was snatched.

Mr Camilleri alone was further accused of slightly injuring the woman, being in possession of three screwdrivers without giving the police a plausible explanation and relapsing.

The men requested bail but prosecutor Anthony Portelli insisted that the elderly, who are usually targeted in these bag-snatching incidents, need to be protected. He also mentioned that one of the accused had similar cases.

Magistrate Jacqueline Padovani turned down the request for bail and they were remanded in custody.

Police Inspector Anthony Portelli prosecuted. Lawyer Patrick Valentino was appointed legal aid for Mr Camilleri while lawyer Matthew Brincat represented Mr Cutajar.