Two men brandishing large kitchen knives were apprehended by police thanks to an accurate eyewitness description, a court heard on Monday. 

Ahmed Al Allagi, 27 and born in Libya was arraigned alongside his compatriot Ben Arus Karam, 32, both living at Swatar, and charged with having carried two kitchen knives without the necessary police licence and threatening a third party with the weapons.

Mr Allagi was separately and additionally charged with having also threatened another individual at an Msida mini market as well as with having breached earlier bail conditions imposed upon him in September 2017.

The court, presided over by magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera, heard how the two episodes happened last Saturday evening between 9.30 and 10.00pm.

Police were able to track down the two men thanks to a detailed and accurate description of one of the two suspects, particularly his camouflage jacket.

Two kitchen knives, one with a 12 centimetre blade and the other a 20-centimetre blade, were found in their possession. 

Assisted by legal aid lawyers, Mr Karam pleaded guilty and was handed a one-month jail term suspended for two years, while his alleged partner in crime pleaded not guilty and requested bail, which however was denied in view of the man’s criminal record.

The latter was remanded in custody while was strictly warned by the court to understand the full implications of his suspended sentence which was like "a sword hanging above his head."

Inspector Jonathan Ransley prosecuted. Lawyer Helga Buttigieg Debono was legal aid counsel to Mr Karam. Lawyer Noel Bartolo was legal aid counsel to Mr Allagi.

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