Justin Polidano, 23 and his father Joseph, 52, were today remanded in custody after pleading not guilty to stealing various household items from a residence in Zurrieq last Saturday night.

Police Inspector Arthur Mercieca told the court that the two were caught red-handed by an off-duty policeman who noticed them entering the house and called officers who surrounded the property and arrested them after they came out.

Magistrate Lawrence Quintano remanded the two in custody after considering that Justin Polidano has a drug problem and both live together.

ACCUSED OF GOING ABROAD WHILE ON BAIL

In a separate case, Leandro Ambrogio, 45, was convicted of breaching bail conditions and was sentenced to 90 days in prison. He immediately filed an appeal and was let out under previous bail conditions.

Police Inspector Fabian Fleri said the accused had left the island while under bail and without permission from the police, in order to visit his mother in Italy.

Defence counsel Martin Fenech said these were not serious accusations, but the Inspector said the accused could not be trusted after having left the island without telling anybody.

Magistrate Quintano found him guilty and sentenced him to 90 days in prison.

An appeal was immediately filed, bringing into force his previous bail conditions.

ACCUSED OF DAMAGING CAR

In a third arraignment today, Etienne John Scicluna was jailed for five months after being found guilty of breaching bail conditions. He also filed an immediate appeal.

Mr Scicluna was also charged with damaging his father's car, breaching the peace, threatening to kill his father, threatening to use violence against his brother and father and being drunk in public.

The incident happened after an argument between the accused and his father which saw the accused kicking his father's car, the court was told.

Magistrate Quintano remanded Mr Scicluna in custody after considering that he had already breached bail conditions before.