Arson suspect 'caught' on security camera

The build and gait of a person caught on a closed circuit TV camera setting fire to the house of the Qormi mayor were "identical" to those of a Birzebbuga man being charged with arson, a court heard yesterday.

Police Inspector Carmelo Bartolo explained how the police traced a threatening phone call to Qormi mayor Jesmond Aquilina's father as having been made by Kenneth Camilleri.

On meeting Mr Camilleri the inspector noticed a stark similarity between his physique and his manner of walking and that of the person caught on the CCTV setting fire to the mayor's house front door.

Inspector Bartolo was testifying before Magistrate Miriam Hayman in the compilation of evidence against Mr Camilleri, 27, who is pleading not guilty to setting the mayor's front door on fire, causing damage amounting to over Lm500 and threatening the mayor on January 3 at about 2 a.m.

The officer explained that on January 3 a woman phoned to inform the police that the mayor's house had been set alight. By the time the police arrived on the scene the fire had been put out and the mayor informed officers that his house was equipped with a CCTV system that was functioning at the time of the fire.

The mayor also indicated to the police a man he suspected could have been responsible for the fire. Later that day the police were informed that the mayor's father had received a threatening phone call about the fire.

Further investigations indicated to the police the mobile number from which the threatening call had been made. However, the sim card in question was not registered in anyone's name.

Investigations revealed that a sim card registered under Mr Camilleri had been used in the phone in question.

Consequently, the police called Mr Camilleri in for questioning. He explained that the man indicated as a suspect was a good friend of his and when he learnt about the matter he made the threatening call to try to send the police astray.

He denied setting the door on fire.

Inspector Bartolo added that the CCTV footage showed a person walk to the mayor's house, place something on the threshold, light a fire and run away.

The person had a particular gait and build, which the inspector thought were very similar to Mr Camilleri's. For this reason the inspector had Mr Camilleri filmed in front of the mayor's house by the same CCTV and when the two tapes were compared the gaits were identical, he said.

The case continues.

Police Inspectors Bartolo and Raymond D'Anastas are prosecuting.

Lawyers Josè Herrera and Roberto Montalto are defence counsel.