Armed robber stole €37 during hold-up on octogenarian

A 45-year-old man has been remanded in custody after he pleaded not guilty so threatening an 81-year-old man during a hold-up on a lotto booth on Saturday afternoon.

The incident occurred on Saturday at around 3:10pm in Triq id-Duka ta’ Edinburgh, Hamrun, when the accused, Jesmond Gatt, entered a lotto booth brandishing a knife and demanded that the man hand over his money.

The man resisted the thief, and slightly injured his hands in the process. The thief made off with €37 before being detained by police moments later.

Standing before Magistarte Consuelo Scerri Herrera, Gatt pleaded not guilty to attacking the victim with a knife, to holding the victim against his will and threatening him, and to stealing €37.

The accused was also charged with handling stolen goods and with the illegal possession of a knife.

Magistrate Scerrri Herrera rejected the application for bail and remanded the man in custody.