A 27-year-old heroin addict was ordered to start a drug rehabilitation programme after he pleaded not guilty stealing a car and attempting to defraud its owners.
Stefan Cutajar, pleaded not guilty to stealing an Opel Astra from Luqa Industrial Estate on July 21 and to attempting to defraud its owners, Raymond and Rita Borg.
Mr Cutajar was accused of writing a cheque for €721 to himself on a chequebook he found in the car. However, he was apprehended before he managed to cash it.
The prosecution and the defence agreed Mr Cutajar should be ordered to start a drug rehabilitation programme.
The magistrate acceded to this request and ordered that the accused be kept at forensic ward at Mount Carmel.