Mechanic called tow truck from prison to move stolen van, court hears

A mechanic awaiting trial for car theft called a tow truck from prison to recover as stolen vehicle he had left in Mosta, a court has heard.

Abdulsalam Salem Benhamed, a 52-year-old Libyan national, is accused of stealing multiple vehicles, a generator and other items  between May and August. He denies the charges. 

Police Inspector Jeffrey Scicluna from the Major Crimes Unit testified that the case began on July 14, when the owner of a showroom in Qormi discovered several vehicles and parts missing.

The stolen items included a Landrover Defender worth €30,000, a Toyota Hilux valued at €20,000, four motorcycles valued at €3,000, a set of tyres and rims and other parts. 

CCTV footage from the area showed a Toyota Vitz, reported stolen in May from Paola, circling the area before the thefts. The footage later showed somone driving the Landrover, followed by the Hilux.

Inspector Scicluna said he recognised the suspect as Benhamed, who had used the same methods in a separate case already in court.

The Toyota Vitz's owner handed them footage, showing the thief arriving on a bicycle with a car battery, swapping it into the Vitz and driving off. The car's battery had been flat, and the key had been left inside.

The owner later came across the stolen vehicle and tried to confront  Benhamed. He told him “that car is mine”. Benhamed allegedly replied “I will tell you who it belongs to..."  Fearing for his safety the car's owner left and filed a police report. By the time police arrived, the Vitz was gone.

The inspector said that on July 17, the showroom owner's son reported finding the Landrover and Hilux in Fgura. A third vehicle, a Samsung van with Toyota signage, was also located nearby. It had been hotwired and stolen on June 23.

Inside the Landrover, police found two stolen motorcycles, while the van contained a stolen generator and a toy motorcycle taken from the showroom.

A very good mechanic

Inspector Scicluna said that Benhamed was a mechanic, "praised by everyone.”

He was so good, he even repaired a forklift in the showroom to load items into the Landrover he then stole. He also repaired the Samsung van, which its owner had brought in with ignition problems.

Police later found a yard in Fgura where Benhamed was believed to be working.  A Kia under repair was discovered along with two caps, one of which matched CCTV footage from the showroom. 

Benhamed arrived while officers were waiting for him, but quickly reversed and drove away. 

On July 29, police were informed that a Subaru J10 had been stolen two days earlier. CCTV footage showed two people emerging from the stolen Toyota Vitz and taking the Subaru. The car was later found in Santa Venera.

On August 9, a Mazda Titan was stolen from Ħamrun. CCTV again placed Benhamed in the area during the theft. The next day, police spotted the Toyota Vitz in Balzan and later found Benhamed asleep in another stolen vehicle nearby. He was arrested and arraigned on August 11.

Accused calls tow truck from prison

Two days after his arraignment, police received a tip about a Peugeot Bipper van left in a road in Mosta. The vehicle had been reported stolen between July 20 and 30.

As officers arrived, a tow truck appeared. The driver said he was acting on instructions from Behamed, who it tuned out had called from the prison's landline. The driver, who had previously worked with Benhamed, had been told to tow the van to Santa Venera.

The tow truck driver, cooperating fully with the police, towed the vehicle to Santa Venera and the police kept watch over it.

Later a Libyan national approached the van. He was questioned by the police and said that he had nothing to do with the van, but Benhamed had called through a landline and asked him to park it on his street because he had to move it due to the feast of Santa Marija. 

That call was traced back to prison.

After hearing further testimony, Magistrate Astrid May Grima ruled that there was enough evidence for the accused to stand trial.

AG lawyer Giuliana Magro Conti prosecuted, assisted by police inspectors Jeffrey Scicluna and Ian Vella. Legal procurator Paul Camilleri appeared for the accused, standing in for lawyer Nicholas Mifsud.