Art theft suspect denied bail again

A San Gwann man, charged with stealing over Lm200,000 worth of paintings and antiques from several houses, has been denied bail a second time as witnesses have not yet testified in the case against him because the records of the inquiries into the burglaries are not yet been closed.

Magistrate Giovanni Grixti turned down the request for bail by Paul Spagnol after he heard how, as confirmed in three notes filed by the Attorney General, the records of the inquiries into the burglaries over which Mr Spagnol was now being charged had not been closed.

During his arraignment, on March 31, Mr Spagnol had been denied bail after another magistrate, who was on duty on the day, ruled there was the fear he would tamper with the prosecution's witnesses.

Mr Spagnol, 38, is pleading not guilty to stealing paintings and antique furniture, valued at over Lm200,000, from different places between May 2005 and March 2006 and hoarding them.

He is also charged with breaking into and damaging other people's property, keeping a number of stolen items inside a garage in Msida and being in possession of firearms, including a sawn-off shotgun, without a licence, and relapsing.

Police Inspector Michael Mallia yesterday took the witness stand and recalled that in January Paul Deguara filed a police report because someone had broken into his St Paul's Bay house and stolen several paintings and antiques.

On investigating the break-in the police learnt that the thief had entered the house from a side entrance that led to the garden from where he broke into the house and into the garage, where he must have parked the vehicle with which he carried away the paintings and furniture.

Police also noticed that the railings of stairs in the house had been removed to allow for easier handling of furniture.

An informant then told the police the stolen items were being stored in an Msida garage.

Inspector Mallia went on to explain that the area indicated by the informant contained about 40 garages. The police peeped through the garage ventilators and identified the garage containing the stolen antiques.

It resulted that the garage belonged to a certain Oreste Gatt who had rented it out to Mr Spagnol.

Although when questioned Mr Spagnol had initially denied his involvement in the theft he eventually told the police he had stolen the paintings and antiques from the St Paul's Bay house and had sold some to an antiques salesman.

On searching the garage the police also found two guns, one of which had been reported stolen from a Sliema house, and other antiques that had been stolen from a Hal Far house.

The police also found boxes containing computer equipment that had been stolen from a house in San Gwann that was used as a store.

Magistrate Grixti ruled there were sufficient reasons for Mr Spagnol to be indicted.

Lawyers Franco Debono and Charmaine Cherett appeared for Mr Spagnol.