A drug addict was this morning remanded in custody after pleading not guilty to stealing a handbag belonging to an elderly woman and then trying to withdraw cash from an ATM with her card.

Clifton Attard, 24, from Msida, pleaded not guilty to snatching 71-year-old Carmela Apap's handbag in Gzira on Monday evening, slightly injuring her and attempting to withdraw cash with her bank card 20 minutes later.

Police Inspector James Grech told Magistrate Ian Farrugia how an eyewitness saw the entire incident and gave the police the alleged thief's details, as he happened to know him. CCTV footage from the ATM was also used to pin him down.

He said the accused had a drug addiction, with Mr Attard interjecting that he was clean at the moment.

Defence lawyers Franco Debono and Marion Camilleri made a request for bail, arguing that the prosecution should have brought its witnesses to court to testify at the first sitting.

However, Magistrate Farrugia said that considering the seriousness of the crime and his voluminous criminal record, the accused was not trustworthy and there was a real concern that he would tamper with evidence.

Police Inspector Jonathan Ransley also prosecuted.

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