A Somali national yesterday denied stealing a three-day-old iPhone 6 from a man in Paceville whom he randomly hugged.

Ahmed Mahmoud, 18, approached Swedish national Leo Stanley Clemenstal in Paceville at around 3am and hugged him, wishing him a happy new year in the process. However, Mr Clemenstal later discovered his phone was missing.

Although the phone was never found, Police Sergeant Andrew St John told Magistrate Donatella Frendo Dimech that Mr Mahmoud was known to the police for these types of crimes.

The case continues on Thursday.

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