Lotto receiver slightly injured in hold-up

A lotto receiver sustained gunshot wounds to the legs when he was held up outside his residence in Żabbar yesterday morning.

George Vella was leaving his house in Triq Il-Qaqoċċ when an armed and hooded man forced him to hand over a bag he was carrying.

The police said that, for reasons as yet unknown, the robber fired multiple shots in the direction of the 54-year-old before fleeing with the bag.

Sources said the man was slightly injured in the legs from shotgun pellets and eyewitnesses said the windows of a car parked opposite the house were shattered by the shots. Residents said the lotto receiver was on his way to his lotto booth in Żabbar and was carrying his cash float in a bag.

The police said the amount stolen still has to be established.

In March 2001, three men were charged with attempting to break into Mr Vella's lotto booth.