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.

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