A 12-year-old boy was remanded in custody at the Yours (Young Offenders Unit Rehabilitation Services) section of the Corradino Correctional Facility after he pleaded not guilty to 11 charges.

The boy, whose name cannot be published by a court order, was charged with holding a boy of the same age against his will in order to extort money from him, causing him to fear that violence would be used against him and making him commit a crime, assaulting him and threatening him at Salinos Football Ground Floriana on and before Wednesday.

The boy, who resides in Valletta, pleaded not guilty also to stealing more than e232.94 (Lm100) worth of goods, among which a mobile phone which he allegedly stole from a 14-year-old girl at Hastings Gardens, Valletta on 4 February at 3pm.

Before magistrate Doreen Clarke, the boy also pleaded not guilty to offending public morals at South Street, Valletta on Wednesday at 7.30pm, dealing in stolen goods, illegally carrying a knife, threatening the police and failing to give to the police a mobile phone he found.

Magistrate Clarke remanded the boy in custody.

Police Inspector James Grech prosecuted while Dr Renzo Porsella Flores was legal aid to the boy.