Boy, 15, accused of €1,200 theft

A 15-year-old boy was taken to court under arrest today and accused of stealing €1,200 in a bag snatching case last Monday evening at Beltissebh, Floriana.

The boy is alleged to have assaulted 45-year-old Maria Grazzia Cucciardi and run off with two bags which contained the cash. The case took took place at about 7 p.m.

The woman, who was not injured, gave a detailed description of her assailant, and the boy was allegedly given away by a friend, police sources said.

Court officials said he had been arraigned under arrest because of the seriousness of the charge.

During court arguments on bail, Police Inspector Pierre Micallef Grimaud said the boy had not cooperated at all with the police, to the point of arrogance. He objected to the granting of bail, saying he could imagine him roaming the streets of Valletta at a time when people were doing their Christmas shopping.

The defence insisted on bail, saying the boy had no police record and his arrest was traumatic enough.

Bail was granted by the court against a personal guarantee of €3,000.