Two arraigned over theft from shop close to law courts

A man and a teenager were yesterday remanded in custody after they pleaded not guilty to stealing €2,329.37 (Lm1,000) worth of watches and jewellery from Sun Lab in Republic Street, Valletta.

Rittmar Hatherly, 20, of Floriana and a 16-year-old boy of Valletta who cannot be named because he is a minor pleaded not guilty to causing €1,164 (Lm500) damage to the store and stealing watches and jewellery worth about €2329.37 (Lm1,000).

The court heard how the shop, situated next door to the law courts, was allegedly burgled by the two in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Both of them also pleaded not guilty to breaching probation orders handed down by a previous court.

Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera took into consideration the fact that the two could not be trusted as they had already breached previous releases and so remanded them in custody.

Police Inspector James Grech prosecuted. Lawyers Franco Debono and Marion Camilleri were defence counsel.