A 21-year-old woman this afternoon pleaded not guilty to stealing handbags from three women and threatening them.

Miriam Elabed, of Valletta, was charged with stealing the items from Ta’ Xbiex early yesterday at around 12.30am and threatening the women.

She also pleaded not guilty to threatening one of the women with a broken bottle.

Ms Elabed was also charged with loitering with intent to prostitute.

The prosecution objected to a request for bail because the accused had no fixed address and there were witnesses. However, defence lawyer Carm Mifsud Bonnici argued that there was no risk of tampering of evidence.

Magistrate Marseann Farrugia denied bail but asked the prosecution to bring forward the witnesses to testify.

In a separate case, a man pleaded guilty to snatching a handbag from a car and running away with it.

Claudio Mallia, 31, of Valletta, admitted to stealing a handbag with cash and an iPhone worth up to €2,300 from a parked car in Triq ix-Xatt, Pieta on Friday at around 5pm.

He also admitted to relapsing. Sentence still has to be delivered.

Police Inspector Jason Sultana prosecuted.

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