A man charged with stealing from a house in Birkirkara yester-day claimed he was framed by a prostitute who carried out the theft.

Johan Sultana, 30, from Ħamrun, claimed Brenda Mallia slept with the elderly owner of the residence and stole his house keys.

She returned three days later and robbed him, he said. The police confirmed Ms Mallia is on their list of wanted people.

Mr Sultana is charged with stealing more than €2,500 from the man’s Birkirkara home on and before October 1, and relapsing.

His lawyer, Joe Brincat, claimed that after committing the theft, Ms Mallia called his client to ask for a lift and he obliged. As she was in his car, she gave him a package that she told him to hold on to. Police inspector Elton Taliana strongly refuted this, saying the police had “strong evidence” to prove Mr Sultana was at the house during the theft.

He said Mr Sultana and Ms Mallia had worked “in tandem” to carry out the crime.

Magistrate Edwina Grima turned down a request for bail and Mr Sultana was remanded in custody.