Two charged with setting bar on fire

Two men from Hamrun were yesterday charged in court with the burning of a bar in Qormi in the early hours of Saturday.

Marius Scerri, 18, and Frederick Joseph Grech, 19, represented by lawyers Mario de Marco and Jason Azzopardi respectively, pleaded not guilty and were denied bail by Magistrate Silvio Meli. The court, however, ordered the prisons director to ensure that Mr Scerri, who was suffering from 10 per cent burns, got the required medical treatment even if it meant having to go to hospital. The men were arraigned by Police Inspector Raymond D'Anastas of setting fire to the Saints Bar in the limits of Qormi at about 3.45 a.m. when there were several people inside, and of causing more than Lm500 worth of damage to the bar.

Mr Scerri was also accused of assaulting and verbally threatening Isaura Magri and Roberta Cutajar, the bar owner, using foul language and breaching the public peace.