Two men were remanded in custody on Friday following their arraignment in connection with a series of armed robberies earlier this week.

Antoine Agius, a 42-year-old homeless man, and Ans Algheziwi, a 36-year-old Libyan construction worker residing in Sliema, face multiple charges. These include three armed robberies, the unlawful detention of victims, possession of weapons in public, unlicensed driving, and willful damage to property.

Agius was additionally charged with receiving stolen goods, breaching bail conditions, and being a repeat offender. Algheziwi also faces separate charges of breaching bail, recidivism, and theft of the vehicle allegedly used in the crimes.

Inspector Lydon Zammit told the court that police received a report of an armed robbery in the early hours of 2 July. Two masked, shirtless men reportedly entered a Sliema establishment, threatening a victim and stealing cash and cigarettes.

Later that day, two more incidents were reported. In Mġarr, a taxi driver was allegedly held at gunpoint and robbed of €500. A third robbery occurred at a pharmacy in San Ġwann, where the suspects - again shirtless and masked - committed a violent theft.

Investigations led police to stop Agius in a red car believed to have been used in all three robberies. Evidence was recovered from the vehicle, and Algheziwi was arrested shortly afterward at his residence. He required medical attention and was admitted to Mater Dei Hospital for a day.

The validity of the arrests was not contested. Defence lawyer Matthew Xuereb, representing Agius, questioned whether his client's mental state had been assessed, noting Agius had only recently been released from Mount Carmel Hospital. Inspector Zammit confirmed no such evaluation had been made.

Bail was not requested. However, Xuereb and legal aid lawyer Yanica Barbara Sant requested the court recommend psychological assessments to determine whether the accused should be held at the forensic unit.

Magistrate Monica Vella presided over the court. The prosecution was led by Inspectors Lydon Zammit, Keith Rizzo, and Dylan Pace, with legal assistance from lawyer Martina Calleja from the Attorney General's office.

Matthew Xuereb appeared for Antoine Agius, while Yanica Barbara Sant represented Ans Algheziwi.