Chief Justice rejects call for bail revocation

The Criminal Court has turned down an application by the Attorney General asking for the revocation of the bail granted to two men charged with the murder of Brian Rosso, whose body has not yet been found.

The court, however, imposed additional bail conditions to those laid down by the Magistrates' Court when the men were granted bail earlier this month.

Anthony Bugeja, 37, and Piero Di Bartolo, 31, are pleading not guilty to Mr Rosso's murder last October 10 and to hiding his body. Rosso had been reported missing by his wife but despite several searches by the police and the Armed Forces of Malta on land and at sea his body was never found.

The accused were granted bail on February 7 on condition they do not leave their homes without court permission and were bound by a Lm20,000 deposit and a personal guarantee to the same amount.

A week later the Attorney General filed an application in which he asked the Criminal Court to revoke the bail granted to the two men.

However, Chief Justice Vincent De Gaetano, in the Criminal Court, ruled that he was satisfied with the decision made by the Magistrates' Court.

He also decided that several conditions were to be added to the bail conditions and these included that the two men deposit their travel documents in court and that they sign twice a day at the police station of the locality where they resided.

Police Inspectors Chris Pullicino and Louise Calleja are prosecuting.

Lawyers Giannella Caruana Curran and Emanuel Mallia are appearing for Mr Bugeja.

Lawyers Joseph Giglio and Vincent Galea are defence counsel for Mr Di Bartolo.