Suspects charged with attempted murder of two police officers

Two of the four men allegedly involved in the botched heist on the HSBC headquarters last week were yesterday charged with the attempted murder of two police officers and trying to rob the bank.

Daren Debono, 33, from Żonqor, Marsascala, who stood in the dock holding a tissue to a wound on his jaw near his right ear, and 48-year-old Vincent Muscat, with no permanent address, both denied the charges brought against them, 18 in all.

They are charged with trying to kill PC Kenneth Ciangura and PC Kurt Gauci, trying to rob the bank, stealing a Glock pistol and holding PC Domenic Bugeja and Jesmond Muscat and Ivan Azzopardi against their will.

They also pleaded not guilty to having a number of guns and other weapons in their possession during the commission of a crime, damaging three cars, firing a weapon in an inhabited area, stealing a car and number plates and relapsing.

Lawyer Joe Giglio, appearing for Mr Debono, did not ask for bail.

Mr Muscat's defence counsel, lawyer Chris Cardona, said the main witnesses were all policemen, so there was no fear of tampering with evidence. Furthermore, his client did not have a particularly bad criminal record except for minor crimes such as illegal gambling and hunting. The fact that he was granted police bail during investigations proved he was trustworthy, Dr Cardona argued.

Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera said Mr Muscat's criminal record featured 13 convictions for crimes ranging from theft to traffic violations. These, including the fact that he was now charged with a very serious crime, the magistrate remanded him in custody.

Police Inspectors Joseph Mercieca, Keith Arnaud and Anthony Portelli prosecuted.

Three men wearing wigs and fake moustaches entered the HSBC building in Qormi last Wednesday at about 7.30 p.m. They are believed to have used electronic codes known only to employees. They assaulted a police officer from the Special Assignments Group, removed his pistol and tied him to another two bank employees who were in the control room.

The police arrived on the scene after receiving a tip-off about suspicious activity at the building and, on their arrival, a vehicle parked in front of the bank sped-off with the officers giving chase.

Three men were still inside the bank when someone inside called for help and the officers returned. When the intruders tried to leave, a shoot out erupted. A second getaway car managed to escape with all the intruders during the commotion.