Shortly after serving an eight month prison term over car theft, 39-year-old Kaled Mukthar Ben Gamhur is again facing charges for breaking into another two vehicles.

Ben Gamhur was arraigned in court this morning before presiding magistrate Antonio Vella over accusations that he stole a pair of sunglasses from a parked car in Valletta just this morning, and attempting to break into a second vehicle. The accused is also being charged with voluntarily damaging third-party property.

Prosecuting inspector Priscilla Caruana Lee told the court how the police were informed that a man was trying to enter two cars parked in Girolamo Cassar Street, Valletta, through the use of force. Officers immediately went down to the scene, and found the accused carrying a pair of designer sunglasses that was stolen from one of the vehicles.

Ben Gamhur told the court that he is currently unemployed, and was provided assistance by legal aid lawyer Chris Chircop, who pleaded not guilty on behalf of the accused.

Chirchop put forward a request for bail, objected to by the prosecution and ultimately rejected by the courts. Vella argued that the accused does not hold the necessary legal requirements to be granted bail. This decision was taken on the basis that the accused has no ties to Malta, is currently unemployed and he is therefore found to be a flight risk.

Throughout the inspector’s objections, she noted that the accused has committed similar crimes. He has seven previous convictions for crimes which include theft. It was also pointed out that the accused’s brother was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment for theft just last week.

In addition to this, it was argued that civilian witnesses still had to testify, therefore there was a risk that the accused would somehow approach them.

When it was pointed out that the accused is unemployed and holds little ties to Malta, the accused, who was getting severely agitated, interjected to question how he was supposed to find work after having just been released from prison.