Five teenagers yesterday appeared in court to answer charges of mugging an asylum seeker, and stealing his phone and cash that was on his person.

The youths are not being named by court order, but are aged 14, 16, 17, 17 and 18. All five were charged with stealing cash and a Samsung mobile phone from Simon Yves Molondo, an Algerian national, on 7 May 2007. The prosecution charged the teenagers with aggravated theft due to the violence used in the commission of the crime.

They were also accused of causing slight injury and assault.

Two of the accused pleaded guilty to aggravated theft, while two others plea bargained and pleaded guilty to handling stolen property. One of the accused pleaded not guilty to all charges and requested a separation of proceedings, to which the court acquiesced.

The court, presided over by magistrate Lawrence Quintano, said that it would not pass quick judgment for the sake of statistics. “This court wants to hear evidence pertinent to the case.

“I want these boys to realise how serious their actions were and that there could be a danger that they can go to prison for doing such things,” he said.

He put off the case for testimony and judgment for 4 July. Police inspector Mario Tonna prosecuted while Dr Joe Giglio, Dr Jose Herrera, Dr Kris Busietta, Dr Gianella Caruana Curran and Dr Joe Brincat appeared for the accused.