Police still in the dark about casino heist

Suspects are still being questioned in connection with the Casino di Venezia heist, but police are not close to issuing charges 11 days on from the robbery.

Sources said the police were "strongly suspecting" a number of people who may have been involved, but did not yet have sufficient evidence to proceed.

Last week, police said a number of people had been questioned but would not give further details. However, sources said the suspects had since been released. They said these included a security guard employed with a private company who failed to take the details of everyone driving through to the Vittoriosa Waterfront.

When contacted, police it was "inappropriate to disclose any information" since the investigation was still underway.

Meanwhile, when asked about a wig and a scarf found in the Mitsubishi Pajero used by the robbers, the sources said these may have been left there deliberately to mislead the investigation.

The Pajero was dumped into the sea before the robbers fled by speedboat.

The sources referred to the €1 million theft from a security van outside HSBC Bank in Balzan on November 30, 2007, where deceiving trace evidence had been purposely left behind by the robbers. The police are not ruling out a connection between the HSBC and the casino thefts.

Meanwhile, the speedboat which was used by the robbers to flee the quay has not yet been found.

The carefully planned robbery was carried out in about three minutes on the night before money is collected by security guards.

Police have still not disclosed the amount stolen from the casino but it is believed to include cash, jewellery and cheques.