A 29-year-old man from Santa Venera today was granted bail following charges related to aggravated theft.

Clifton Grech appeared before Magistrate Francesco Depascuale on accusations related to a violent robbery which took place in Mgarr. The court heard how on 10 June this year, the accused broke into a residence in Sir Temi Zammit road and stole more than €2,300 in items.

Inspectors Fabian Fleri and Godwin Scerri explained that the police mobile squad traced the man through CCTV footage.

Defence lawyer Joe Giglio, who appeared for the accused, requested bail. He argued that the evidence collected is safely stored in footage by CCTV cameras and through mobile tracking and therefore the accused poses no threat to the evidence.

The man, who works as a butcher, pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against him.

The police inspector leading the prosecution said that there are victims who still have to testify. He also noted that the mobile phone is already in police’s possession. Inspector Fleri explained that the pickup truck which was used when the alleged crime took place is at the mechanic following a separate incident. The prosecution asked to have it taken by the court as an evidence to the case.

The court noted that the man’s criminal record is clean. Magistrate Francesco Depasquale granted bail to the accused. He ordered Grech to report at the Hamrun Police station every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday between 5am and 5pm. The accused was ordered to pay a personal guarantee of €5,000 and a deposit of €1,000.