A 32-year old man was on Sunday charged with multiple thefts and denied bail.

Christian Bonello, who has no fixed address, pleaded not guilty to the charges, which included stealing items from a car and birds from a garage in Sta Luċija.

Defence lawyer Noel Cutajar questioned whether 48 hours had expired since Mr Bonello’s arrest on Friday afternoon just after 12pm, as this would have meant the window to charge him was closed.

Although court was called for noon, Magistrate Anthony Vella explained he had been called out to inspect the scene of a robbery in Sliema, and had delayed the hearing by a few minutes.

Woman jailed for theft

In another case, a 69-year-old woman was handed a six-month prison sentence for mobile phone theft and begging in Valletta.

Tita Budescu, a Romanian, pleaded guilty to the charges which also included relapsing.

Bail denied

In another case, Stefan Asenov Ivanov, a 25-year-old Bulgarian, was charged with grievously injuring another Bulgarian and with being a relapser.

Magistrate Vella denied the bail request and order that he is to be remanded into custody.