'Drunk' reveller charged with arson

A man who was "blind drunk" after celebrating the results of the European Parliament elections was yesterday placed under house arrest after he was charged with trying to set an apartment door alight.

Jonathan Cauchi, 21, of Pietà was accused by Police Inspectors Anglu Caruana and Mario Bonello of willfully trying to set fire to the door of a residence in a block of flats last Sunday.

Cauchi was also charged with reckless driving, causing damages to third party property and relapsing.

Dr José Herrera, one of the two lawyers who appeared for Cauchi, told Magistrate Myriam Hayman the whole incident started as a joke between the accused, whom he described as being "blind drunk", and a person living in the block.

Cauchi was granted bail against a personal guarantee of Lm5,000 and placed under house arrest.

Dr Roberto Montalto was the other lawyer for Cauchi.

Dr Malcolm Mifsud appeared in parte civile.