A man who stole two historic gold medals from the Birgu Maritime Museum had posed as an official from the Education Department to gain access to them, a court has heard.

25-year-old Justin Mallia was charged today after the police arrested him for stealing two gold medals that had been awarded between 1800 and 1801 to leaders and members of the National Congress battalions who fought to liberate Malta from the French.

In court today, prosecutors explained that Mallia had posed as an official from the Education Department and had told museum staff that he was there to deliver documents.

Due to the fact that an event for schoolchildren was taking place at the time, he was granted access by museum security.

Police managed to identify Mallia on CCTV footage and track him down within a few hours. The suspect gave up the coins as soon as police knocked on his door.

Besides aggravated theft, Mallia has also been charged with being in possession of illegally acquired historic items, defrauding the Maritime Museum, and breaching three bail decrees.

He initially pleaded guilty, claiming that he stole the medals – worth around €400,000 – to pay off a debt. However, he later changed his plea to not guilty after magistrate Charmaine Galea warned him he was facing eight years in prison.