A pensioner pleading not guilty to stealing an iPhone and a wallet was remanded in custody yesterday because he could not afford to pay the bail bond of €2,000.

Emmanuele Magro, who turned 61 yesterday, was charged with stealing the items from a car parked in Ġzira on Tuesday and was allegedly caught on CCTV.

When granting bail, Magistrate Marseann Farrugia ordered that he make a deposit of €2,000 or find someone to stand as a guarantor. Mr Magro said he lived alone, had no one to rely on and could not afford the bail deposit.

His legal aid lawyer, Patrick Valentino, said his client also had medical problems.

Magistrate Farrugia refused to budge and said that an order was an order.

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