Farmer who confronted thief is assaulted

An unemployed waiter, Roderick Fiteni, 32, from Zebbug, today pleaded not guilty to trying to steal fruit from a field, assaulting the farmer and breaching bail conditions. A court was told that the alleged incident took place yesterday afternoon. The farmer confronted Mr Fiteni when he found him trying to steal fruit from his field. He tried to hold him but Mr Fiteni assaulted him and left. Mr Fiteni was arrested shortly after following the intervention of the police Rapid Intervention Unit. Lawyer Joe Bonnici said Mr Fiteni was arrested when he was on his way to the police station to turn himself in. He said his client was not some career criminal. Although he had a pending case about injuring his brother, everything has been sorted out and resolved, the lawyer said. Magistrate Ian Farrugia remanded the accused in custody.