Charged with armed hold-up

Two men were yesterday charged with committing a hold- up during which they fired a revolver.

Martin Cassar, 24, from Sta Venera and George Degabriele, 23 from Cospicua were arraigned by Inspector Geoffrey Azzopardi and charged with stealing over Lm1,000 worth of mobile phone top up vouchers and other phone cards in an armed hold-up from Hudson Confectionery in Qormi on March 5 at about 7.50 p.m.

The men were charged with being in possession of a revolver without a licence and with firing it in an inhabited area.

Degabriele alone was charged with stealing a Tata Sumo to the detriment of Carmelo Vella of Sta Lucija and with driving the car without a licence and insurance cover.

The accused were granted bail but were remanded in custody as they declared they could not pay the Lm300 deposit imposed by the court.

Dr Roberto Montalto and Dr Jose Herrera appeared for Degabriele. Dr Franco Debono appeared for Cassar.