A man with a drug problem and a tainted criminal record sheet was today remanded in custody after being arraigned on charges of attempted theft.
Tripoli-born Mohamed Mokhtar Jamhur, 25, residing in Valletta, was brought to court to face two separate charges of attempted theft and another charge of wilful damage to third party property.
The court, presided by magistrate Charmaine Galea, heard how in the early hours of yesterday morning at around 4.00am an anonymous phone call alerted police that somebody was trying to break into vehicles parked along the Granaries in Floriana.
Converging on the spot, police officers found two vehicles which bore clear signs of an attempted break-in. One of the cars' windbreaker had been snapped off in an attempt to open the side window. A second car had its side window smashed.
The police wasted no time in contacting the owners of the two vehicles who were shocked out of their sleep by the unwelcome news that their cars had been the target of a theft attempt. Although one of the vehicles suffered damages, it was certified that nothing was stolen in the attempt.
Police scouring the area soon came upon Mr Jamhur close to the Floriana Health Centre and took him into custody.
Although the accused pleaded not guilty, no request for bail was made at this stage. The defence counsel explained that his client had a drug problem which needed to be addressed.
When the accused's legal counsel and the prosecutor requested permission to approach the bench, the magistrate declared that whatever needed to be discussed was to be said in open court. "Tell me what you need to tell me from there," the magistrate told both parties.
The court noted that Mr Jamhur was a relapser, having received a suspended prison sentence last November after a stabbing incident involving his wife's lover. In February, the operative period of that sentence was extended after Mr Jamhur admitted to another car break-in in Floriana.
Upholding a request by the defence, the court remanded the accused in custody and recommended that the prison director was to provide all necessary assistance for Mr Jamhur to be able to battle his drug problem.
Inspector Priscilla Caruana Lee prosecuted. Lawyer Victor Bugeja was legal counsel.