A 24-year-old man from Niger was remanded in custody today after trying to sell cannabis to a policeman.

He was also charged with stealing a number of mobile phones.

Hassan Smaile Mohammed, from Msida, denied stealing the mobile phones, handling stolen property and being in possession of cannabis with the intent to sell yesterday at around 3:30am.

A 15-year-old Romanian told Magistrate Claire Stafrace Zammit that Mr Mohammed tried to sell him two mobile phones and a wrist watch yesterday at St George’s Bay at around 2am.

The boy said he turned down the offer, and Mr Mohammed then turned back and tried to sell him cannabis.

The boy turned down the offer, and says Mr Mohammed pulled him up, swore at him and pulled him towards a group of people.

A man then approached them and asked to buy cannabis.

When Mr Mohammed was about to give it to him, the buyer identified himself as police.

Mr Mohammed was  remanded in custody after the Court heard he did not have a fixed address and there was the risk that he absconded.

Police Inspector Trevor Micallef prosecuted.