Boy, 15, charged with robbery and assault in Floriana

An "uncooperative and stubborn" 15-year-old boy was yesterday charged with snatching a woman's bags and stealing €1,200 in cash that he found inside.

The boy, who cannot be named because he is a minor, allegedly assaulted 45-year-old Maria Grazia Cucciardi on Monday at around 7 p.m. in Floriana.

Ms Cucciardi gave a detailed description of her assailant and the police managed to track him down.

Another boy, who was with the accused when the alleged crime took place, told the police that his friend had carried out the crime and had even offered him money to keep his mouth shut, police sources said.

The boy was arraigned under arrest.

During court arguments on bail, Police Inspector Pierre Micallef Grimaud said the boy had not cooperated at all with the police and was stubborn to the point of arrogance.

He objected to the granting of bail, saying he could imagine the boy roaming the streets of Valletta at a time when people were doing their Christmas shopping.

Legal aid lawyer Renzo Porsella Flores insisted that the boy be granted bail, saying he had no police record and his arrest was traumatic enough and served as a lesson.

Magistrate Audrey Demicoli granted the boy bail against a personal guarantee of €3,000 and ordered him to sign the bail book at his local police station every day.