Two elderly women were allegedly conned and robbed by a 34-year-old with a long list of previous offences, a court heard on Wednesday.

The amounts stolen amounted to more than €100,000, a court was told. 

Miriam Caruana, from Valletta, was charged with using a fake name and phony qualifications to pose as a wealth manager and con 80-year-old Maria Dolores Frendo out of thousands of euros.

Prosecuting officers Yvonne Farrugia and Saviour Baldacchino told the court, presided by magistrate Claire Stafrace Zammit, that the accused had also allegedly broken anti-money laundering laws in this racket, which saw her take up to €5,000 from her alleged victim three times.

The court then heard from the two inspectors how Ms Caruana had allegedly robbed a 91-year-old woman at the St James Eye Clinic in Birkirkara.

She allegedly stole a gold necklace, with an estimate value of no more than €2,300.

The court also heard how she was a recidivist and had committed the alleged offences while serving four current suspended sentences.

Although defence lawyers Franco Debono and Yanika Vidal requested bail for their client, Magistrate Stafrace Zammit turned it down and ordered that she be remanded in custody after the prosecution argued than a number of civilian witnesses had yet to testify in the case.