Three men charged with stealing cigarette vending machine

Three young men this morning pleaded not guilty to stealing a cigarette vending machine on Wednesday at about 11 p.m. from Cafe de Baron in Battery Street, Valletta.

Witness Deborah Elliot said that she heard a loud crashing noise at about 10.20 p.m. and looked out of her hotel balcony room. She saw two men pushing a vending machine down the stairs and then leaving.

They came back a second time, pushed the machine onto the road and then disappeared under Victoria Gate.

She identified them from the clothes that they were wearing.

The accused were Curtis Bakoush, 20, of Valletta, Annise Bejaoui, 20, of Rabat and Malcolm Brian Mercieca, 24, of Kalkara.

Mr Bakoush was also charged with stealing diving equipment from a parked car and relapsing.

Taking into consideration that they all had previous convictions for similar charges, Magistrate Audrey Demicoli remanded them in custody.