Two charged with theft

Two women were yesterday granted bail against a personal guarantee of €400 each after pleading not guilty to stealing €300 from a man in Testaferrata Street in Gżira.

Josephine Grixti, 42, from Valletta and Mary Dolores Micallef, 35, from Birkirkara appeared before Magistrate Lawrence Quintano and denied stealing the money from James Edward Mercieca on July 23 at midnight.

Earlier this year, Charles Debono 43, of Msida had pleaded not guilty to complicity to rob Mr Mercieca and holding him against his will in the same incident.

Mr Mercieca, who lives overseas, told the court last July that, after having played poker with his cousin he was walking back to his aunt's house in Gżira when a woman called him offering sex in exchange for money. He refused. A short time later, again while walking, another woman called him, urging him to step inside and telling him she had many beautiful women. Mr Mercieca said he stupidly walked in purely out of curiosity and in no time other women turned up and took his wallet. They emptied it of €355, leaving only €25.

As he protested and demanded the money back, a man holding a knife turned up and so he decided to leave.

Mr Mercieca said he had reported the incident to the police for insurance purposes, in order to get his money back.

Police Inspectors Keith Arnaud and Anna Marie Micallef prosecuted.