€510 stolen in Gżira mugging, two remanded in custody
The accused initially admitted the charges, asking for a fine instead of imprisonment
A man and a woman who allegedly mugged a man in Gzira last week, robbing him of €510, have been remanded in custody.
The incident took place at about 1.30am on December 29 in St Albert Street.
Police inspector Lydon Zammit told a court that a man and a woman, the former armed with a knife, stopped the accused and robbed him of the cash as well as his mobile phone and personal documents.
They took a cab after the mugging, and moved from one Airbnb apartment to the next before they were traced on Saturday at a Sliema short let apartment where they were arrested.
During a search of the property, the police found the documents, wallet and mobile phone belonging to the victim.
Ivan Andres Hinestroza Ambuila,18, and Monica Alejandra Delgado Garcia, 21, both Colombian nationals without a fixed address in Malta, were accused of theft aggravated by violence, causing the victim fear that violence would be used against him, as well as threatening and insulting him. They were also accused of being in possession of a weapon during the commission of a crime, and handling stolen goods.
They admitted the charges brought against them. The court explained the legal consequences of entering a guilty plea. The pair asked whether they could pay a hefty fine instead of facing prison time. Hinestroza Ambuila asked whether he could pay a hefty fine and be deported instead.
The court after noting the accused’s behaviour and questions, did not accept the guilty plea. The pair were remanded in custody.
Magistrate Giannella Camilleri Busuttil presided. AG lawyer Martina Muscat prosecuted along with police inspectors Ian Azzopardi, Keith Rizzo, and Lydon Zammit. Legal aid lawyers Victor Bugeja and Ingrid Zammit Young assisted Monica Alejandra Delgado Garcia and Ivan Andres Hinestroza Ambuila respectively.