Omar Ahmed, 31, of Somalia, was conditionally discharged for a year after he admitted receiving a stolen mobile, which belonged to an Italian woman who filed a rape complaint.

Police Inspector Yvonne Farrugia explained that the police were investigating claims of rape by an Italian woman and several Somalian men were arrested.

The police were informed that the mobile phone, worth around €200, was stolen from the Italian woman, who filed a police report saying she was raped by several men last Sunday, and sold to Mr Ahmed. He fully cooperated with the police and returned the mobile phone, Insp. Farrugia said.

Lawyer Cedric Mifsud, who appeared as legal aid, said his client did not know that the mobile phone was stolen or where it came from.

Magistrate Neville Camilleri conditionally discharged him for a year.