A Libyan refugee was yesterday charged with attempted theft from his former employer's house.

Abdalla El Magrus Juma, 33, was seen by two witnesses breaking a window and entering the house of his former employer, Police Inspector Jeffrey Cilia said. The alleged victim managed to chase him out of the house.

Defence lawyer Gianella Caruana Curran rebutted this, insisting that her client had been framed. However, the prosecuting officer insisted there were two independent eyewitnesses who saw the accused break into the house.

Mr Juma pleaded not guilty to the attempted theft of items from within the house in Siġġiewi, damaging the house and breaching the conditions of a previous release.

In pleas on bail, Dr Caruana Curran said her client had refugee status, had been living in Malta for 12 years, had two children and was married to a Maltese woman.

The prosecution said the accused knew his former employer well and, thus, evidence might be tampered.

Magistrate Joseph Apap Bologna said that at this point in the proceedings he would remand the accused in custody and ordered that all witnesses testify in the first sitting.

Lawyer Joseph Giglio also appeared for the accused.