A man who stole €20,000 worth of items from his former employer was caught after he listed the stolen wares on Facebook’s marketplace, a court heard on Monday.

Steve Camilleri, 30, from St Paul’s Bay was charged with aggravated theft before Magistrate Nadine Lia.

Inspector George Frendo, prosecuting, told the court that the items were reported stolen last year. The police closed in on the man after he posted the items for sale online.

Camilleri, a taxi driver, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The prosecution objected to a request for bail, pointing to the seriousness of the charge.

The inspector said former colleagues of the accused will be testifying in the case and there is a risk of tampering with evidence. He added that the accused had not collaborated during the investigation.

Lawyer Adriana Zammit, appearing for Camilleri, disagreed with this assertion. She said her client, a man who had held a stable job for 10 years with the company suddenly found himself facing a search and arrest warrant.

“If the case is built on these civilian witnesses, the police should have spoken to them before arraigning him,” the lawyer said, adding that the alleged crime took place over a year ago.

The magistrate asked the prosecution why the man was only arrested now, to which the inspector replied that the report was only filed last week after the stolen items showed up on Facebook.

The lawyer said it will emerge that the accused had bought the items from the company. She said the company knew full well that he worked in resale. 

Bail was denied, but the court urged the prosecution to summon the witnesses as soon as possible.