A 32-year-old man's property was seized yesterday after he was charged with the possession of over five kilos of cannabis.

John Mary Vella from St Paul's Bay pleaded not guilty to the charge of possession with intent, which carries a maximum jail term of 10 years, but he was denied bail by Magistrate Joseph Apap Bologna.

Inspector Johann Fenech told the court the man was in possession of some 20 bars of cannabis resin.

The court also ordered the seizure of Mr Vella's assets and barred the sale of any of his property pending proceedings.

Meanwhile, Keith Cremona, 20, of Valletta and Marlon Zarb, 19, of Gżira, were charged with the armed robbery of a lotto office in Annunciation Street, Sliema, on November 21 last year.

It seems that a mobile phone, which formed part of the booty, led police to them.

Inspector Joseph Mercieca said police had arrested the men shortly after the hold-up took place but only charged them recently after the stolen mobile was tracked down.

The new owner of the phone, Insp. Mercieca said, had identified the accused as the people who sold it.

Mr Cremona was also accused of giving false testimony at police headquarters later on the same day and breaching the conditions of a previous sentence.

The men were represented by Malcolm Mifsud and Stephen Tonna Lowell.

In another case, a Somali, Abdirahman Farah Shuriye, was accused of raping a Maltese man in Mosta on Friday night.

The Somali pleaded not guilty and was also remanded in custody.

Inspectors Joseph Agius and Melvin Camilleri prosecuted.