Charmaine Vella was arrested after she allegedly stole a laptop from Ultimate Limited store in San Gwann on 7 August.

The 38-year old Maltese-Australian woman and Mellieha resident yesterday pleaded not guilty of stealing the HP laptop that costs e944, of handling stolen property and relapsing.

She was denied bail as she had gone missing for the past three weeks and for not living in the residence registered on her identification card.

The prosecution led by inspector Raymond Cassar said that Vella is a mother of four and that she can barely maintain herself, let alone her family. She also suffers from a drug problem and depends on social benefits.

Magistrate Edwina Grima refused the request for bail.