An Indian man was remanded in custody yesterday after being accused of stealing a gold ring worth more than €2,300 from former Labour minister Wistin Abela on Tuesday.
Pillai Sivasankara from Msida allegedly pulled the ring off wheelchair-bound Mr Abela, 79, at Our Lady of Sorrows Street in Żejtun.
He also tried to steal his watch.
Mr Sivasankara was further accused of harassing people by public begging and carrying a false ID card.
He denies the charges.
Mr Abela was a long-serving minister under Dom Mintoff and Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici.