David Gatt, the former police inspector accused of masterminding several armed robberies, could face further charges in the coming days related to serious crimes, The Sunday Times has learnt.
Investigators are also digging deeper into last June’s failed heist at HSBC’s operations centre in Qormi which ended in a shootout between police and the robbers. The former inspector-turned-lawyer has also been implicated in this crime.
In the first hearing of the compilation of evidence against David Gatt on Thursday, Police Constable Mario Portelli talked about his six-year-long friendship with the former Rabat inspector, who was described as a criminal mastermind obsessed with the Sicilian Mafia.
Among the most explosive claims by PC Portelli were his statement that Dr Gatt made known in April 2009 that he wanted Eddie Fenech Adami assassinated over the former President and Prime Minister’s role in the former inspector’s dismissal from the police force in 2001.
It was also alleged that he planned to harm Police Commissioner John Rizzo, his predecessor George Grech and the Attorney general, together with at least three police officers.
The 40-year-old from Birkirkara, who became a lawyer after he was dismissed from the police force over suspicions that he associated with criminals, is pleading not guilty to 14 charges, including complicity in a string of major heists, harbouring criminals, and involvement in organised crime.
He is currently on remand; however, his bail application will be re-considered during a hearing on Tuesday by the presiding magistrate.
Dr Gatt is accused of plotting three major, albeit unsuccessful, heists, and offering criminals advice on how to put forensic investigators off track on the 2007 hold-up on the HSBC Balzan branch by planting hair in their getaway vehicle. During last Thursday’s sitting, PC Portelli also told the court he had been asked by Dr Gatt to furtively seek medical help for fugitive Fabio Psaila, who was allegedly seriously injured during a botched hold-up on a jeweller in Attard earlier this month.
PC Portelli said he contacted his superiors after being approached by Dr Gatt to let them know the lawyer was harbouring the criminal. He was told to bide time so that Mr Psaila could be apprehended but Dr Gatt was arrested the following morning. Mr Psaila is still on the run.
There was an attempt to apprehend Mr Psaila at this point, police sources said; however, they held back and acted cautiously at certain points because they feared PC Portelli could put himself in harm’s way.
“There were elements that suggested that PC Portelli’s information leak could have endangered him at that point,” a source told The Sunday Times.