Four years jail for homeless man who stole wallet with €1k, injuring owner
Aggressor identified from CCTV footage
A 26-year-old homeless man was jailed for four years after he pleaded guilty to pushing a 74-year-old man and stealing his wallet containing €1,000.
Farhan Adan Mohamed, a Somali national, admitted to theft aggravated by violence and value, causing the victim slight injuries, living an idle and vagrant life and begging in a public space.
Police inspector Lydon Zammit told the court that on February 27, the police were informed about a mugging on St Joseph High Street in Ħamrun.
The victim told the police that a person approached him while he was sitting on a bench. He had his wallet in his hand. The aggressor allegedly begged for money in English, and the elderly man became uncomfortable and decided to leave.
He stood up and started walking towards Ħamrun when the accused pushed him and stole his wallet. The victim had just withdrawn his pension to settle some bills. The injuries were classified as slight.
The aggressor was identified from CCTV footage and was arrested while the police were patrolling the Marsa area.
AG lawyer Miryea Mifsud prosecuted, assisted by police inspectors Lydon Zammit, Keith Rizzo and Sarah Kathleen Zerafa.
Legal aid lawyer Rachel Tua assisted the accused.