Man charged with stealing from sick mother

A young man was charged with selling the entire contents of his terminally ill mother's house to help him sustain his drug habit.

Johann Calleja's mother did not know her son was selling all her belongings until a person contacted the police about what was going on. She was in hospital being treated for cancer and his father is deceased.

On arriving at the house, police officers found people leaving, carrying household items. On questioning the accused about what was happening, he could not come up with a reasonable answer and was arrested.

Police Inspector Fabian Fleri told the court that Mr Calleja has a serious drug problem and needs immediate help, arguing that bail was not an option because the accused had nowhere else to live except at his mother's house.

Magistrate Antonio Micallef Trigona informed the accused this was a very serious case and thus he would not be granted bail.

Lawyer Patrick Valentino appeared as legal aid to Mr Calleja.