Two Libyan men who denied stealing a bag belonging to a Polish tourist while she was relaxing at St George’s Bay have been remanded in custody.

Younis Emad, who lives at the Ħal Far open centre and Mahmoud Elmejdi, from Buġibba, both 24 years old, pleaded not guilty to stealing the woman’s bag from the popular St Julian’s beach. Mr Emad alone was further charged with breaching a suspended sentence and relapsing.

The Polish woman, Paulina Cywinksa, testified that she went to Paceville with her brother and some other friends on Sunday evening. During the evening, they went down on the beach and at about 1.10am realised that the bag that was by her side was gone.

She said she had two wallets in her bag, one of which had three €50 notes. The other wallet had a €20 note and several coins. The bag itself cost €25.

Ms Cywinksa said she had seen no one stealing her bag and said that the first time she was seeing the two men was in court.

Defence lawyer requested bail but Police Inspector Elton Taliana strongly opposed, saying the two men went to the bay with the specific intention to steal bags from tourists who went there in the evenings. He said one of them had already been convicted of theft and had been given another chance.