Accused of arson at mayor's house

Kenneth Camilleri, 27, of Birzebbuga was yesterday remanded in custody after he was charged with setting Qormi mayor Jesmond Aquilina's residence on fire last Tuesday at about 2 a.m.

He was further charged with causing damage amounting to over Lm500 to the mayor's residence and with threatening the mayor over the phone.

The prosecution opposed a request for bail, arguing the accused could tamper with evidence.

The defence said some of the witnesses had testified before the inquiring magistrate and the prosecution was linking the verbal threats the mayor received over the phone earlier in the day with the arson, when this was not necessarily the case.

Magistrate Joseph Apap Bologna decided the accused should be remanded in custody and ordered the police to summon all the civilian witnesses in the first sitting when the compilation of evidence started.

Police Inspectors Carmelo Bartolo and Raymond D'Anastas prosecuted.

Lawyers Josè Herrera and Roberto Montalto were defence counsel.