Drug addict denied bail after allegedly stealing €350
The man is also accused of threatening his former partner
A 30-year-old man on Wednesday pleaded not guilty to the theft of €350 from his former partner and causing the woman to fear violence would be used against her.
Police inspector Omar Zammit told the court that the woman called the police late on Monday, saying that the man, with whom she had been in a relationship for ten months, was threatening her over the phone while she was at work.
The man allegedly threatened to go to her workplace and hurt her, Zammit said.
The woman also claimed that the man had a drug issue. She also reported that she had €350 stored in a box, which she could not find and suspected he took them.
The woman also referred to an incident three weeks earlier but refused to file a police report.
The man was arrested at his residence in Marsa
In court, the man pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Lawyer Ezekial Psaila requested bail.
Prosecutor Brandon Bonnici objected, saying that while the prosecution conceded that the man had a clean criminal record and had ties to Malta, the alleged victim has not yet testified and he has a serious drug issue, which he also spoke about.
The woman scored 20 on the risk assessment.
Psaila countered that the grounds on which one could object to bail were listed in the Criminal Code. The real fear was that he would communicate with the alleged victim, Psaila argued, adding that the court has the necessary tools at hand to strike a balance.
“Are we going to send a man who has never been to court straight to prison?” Psaila questioned. He added that the man could live with his parents in Marsa and be barred from going to the woman’s hometown. The necessary guarantees can be made.The man is also employed and risks losing his job if he is on remand.
Psaila added that as far as he was aware the police are set to issue charges against the woman, which Zammit confirmed.
Zammit pointed out that the accused has not yet started in his stable job.
Psaila says that a temporary treatment order could be issued to address his drug problem.
After hearing the submissions, the court ruled that it did not have the peace of mind that the accused would abide by the conditions it would impose, and that he had a drug problem. It therefore denied bail.
“Your health should come first,” the court told the accused before leaving the courtroom, adding that he should use this time to get back on his feet.
Magistrate Elaine Rizzo presided over the court.
AG lawyer Brandon Bonnici prosecuted, assisted by police inspector Omar Zammit. Lawyer Ezekial Psaila appeared for the accused.