Former Police Inspector David Gatt was denied bail today at the end of the second session of compilation of evidence against him.
During today's hearing, the court was told how Dr Gatt had been granted licences to possess a number of firearms. A police inspector also said that he had been told by a colleague that while he was an inspector, David Gatt had turned Rabat Police Station into a 'criminals' club'.
Gatt, faces accusations of complicity in four major hold-ups.
Police sources have also raised the possibility that he may be re-arraigned to face further charges.
David Gatt was dismissed from the police force nine years ago amid claims, which he denied, of having had links with crime. He subsequently became a lawyer.
On December 7 he was arraigned to face charges in connection with the hold-up of the Balzan HSBC branch in 2007, the attempted hold-up of the HSBC depot in Qormi at the end of June, the attempted hold-up on jeweller Michael Mizzi in Attard last month and the attempted hold-up on a band security van in Sta Venera last January.
The main witness in the first hearing last week was police constable Mario Portelli, who spoke on how he had been a friend of David Gatt and learned of plans to kill former President Eddie Fenech Adami and other plots against the police commissioner and former commissioner Grech, among others. Evidence was also given by Dr John Zammit Montebello, who described how David Gatt had asked him to treat a man who was subsequently charged with involvement in the HSBC Qormi hold-up.
Police Commissioner John Rizzo and his deputy Joe Cachia also gave evidence on the police investigations after they were given the information by PC Mario Portelli.
Inspector Michael Mallia, who was the first to give evidence this morning, described how the police had conducted investigations in the wake of the information given by PC Portelli including searches at Dr Gatt's house were mafia-related films were found.
The inspector said he and Inspector Mercieca were asked to investigate on December 3. On the same day they interviewed PC 99 Portelli who told them what he knew about David Gatt.
On December 6, Gatt was arrested. He was interrogated between December 6 and 7. On December 7 a confrontation was held between Dr Zammit Montebello and David Gatt.
Dr Gatt also denied involvement during the interrogation and opted not to answer questions. He also refused to be assisted by a lawyer.
On December 6, several searches in properties administered by Dr Gatt were made, including houses and his legal office. Several items were seized, including DVDs mentioned by PC99 and a Nokia mobile phone, with a GO sim.
The court then heard evidence by an IT expert who exhibited mobile phone SMSs sent by David Gatt, as well as a number of photos.
WPC Izmele Fenech, stationed at Birkirkara, said she was asked to look into whether David Gatt had any weapons registered in his name.
He had licences to keep three weapons which are a revolver, serial no 3K18764, revolver, serial no 17048964 and pistol 48152T72.
He also applied for a licence to shoot at a firing range. A licence was granted early this year.
He also applied for a target shooting licence B - to carry a firearm for the purpose of clay pigeon shooting.
Another licence application, approved in March, was for the purchase a firearm and to keep such firearm during the year of its purchase. The application was for two weapons. Pistol FN Serial number 48152T72, Revolver S&W 3K18764.
The final application was in June for a Ruger revolver, serial number 179048964. This was approved on July 5 this year.
Next to give evidence was a surgeon at Mater Dei Hospital, Eric Farrugia, who said that last July 3 he was the duty surgeon when Darren Debono (who was subsequently accused of involvement in the HSBC Qormi hold-up) was admitted to hospital with an injury to his face.
He operated on him and removed a bullet from his jaw. The bullet was handed to the police.
Debono was discharged from hospital on July 7.
Other evidence was given by George Saliba, assistant director at the Electoral Office on the ID card details of Vincent Muscat, Darren Debono and Fabio Psaila (a person wanted by the police for alleged involvement in the HSBC Qormi hold-up at the end of June and the hold-up on the jeweller).
Jane Pace, representing a car hire firm, said a Kia Avella car had been leased to Fabio Psaila on June 30.
Constable Jonathan Agius of the mobile squad, spoke of how he had been called to a quarrel in St Paul's Bay near Hotel San Pawl, in early August where a firearm was used. An argument had broken out between a bus driver and the driver of a BMW after the road was blocked for the bus. The car driver had reportedly been armed. The driver of the BMW was George Degiorgio, who denied having had a weapon.
On October 5, PC Agius said, during a patrol in Marsa at the area known as tal-Patata, he came face-to-face with George Degiorgio who did not appear pleased with the meeting. The constable said he felt compelled to search his car.
As he was about to do so, a Mercedes car drew up and it resulted to belong to Mr Degiorgio's brother. PC Agius said he became more suspicious. Both Degiorgios argued strongly against any searches being made.
PC Agius said he contacted his sergeant who went on site but both men continued to argue strongly against the searches. George Degiorgio insisted that any search should take place only by the CID and he therefore followed them to the CID section.
He was not present for the search.
PC Agius said that on December 19 the day of the first sitting of this compilation of evidence, while he was listening to the PBS news it was reported that he was among the persons who were under threat. However, he was never personally threatened. He also learnt that this was reported on timesofmalta.com .
At this stage the sitting was interrupted for a short break.
When the sitting resumed, the court heard evidence by a police photographer who took pictures after the attempted hold-up at the HSBC depot in Qormi at the end of June. Evidence was also given by other scene of crime officers. Photos and other evidence collected from the scene were presented.
Another officer gave evidence of how he had collected CCTV footage at Smugglers Pub in Balzan.
Another officer, Joseph Zarb, told the court that some six years ago he had a drink in Paceville with David Gatt. They met a number of times after that. As far as he could recall, PC Mario Portelli was present. The topic of the first conversation included the structure of the mafia. They also discussed how Gatt was leaving the police force. But it was just talk, PC Zarb said.
Inspector Mercieca, who was next on the witness stand, said he had been asked to investigate David Gatt and had accompanied PC Portelli as he gave evidence before the inquirying Magistrate Griscti on the same day as the Attard attempted hold-up, which Portelli did not mention.
The inspector said he was also involved in the arrest of Darren Debono and Dr John Zammit Montebello on July 2.
He subsequently searched David Gatt's office.
David Gatt was interrogated and confronted with PC Portelli and Dr Zammit Montebello but always denied the claims made against him.
He recalled that when giving in the case against Darren Debono, he had clearly asked Dr Zammit Montebello about who had first referred Debono to him but Dr Zammit Montebello avoided the questions.
Inpector Mercieca confirmed that he had met David Gatt at Balzan HSBC branch while he (Mercieca) was investigating the hold-up which had taken place a few days previously.
Some 10 years ago when David Gatt was still a police inspector a colleague had explained to him in detail that the accused had turned Rabat police station into a criminals’ club, Insp Mercieca said.
He added that he always kept his distance from accused because of what the sergeant had told him.
When he met him at HSBC Balzan he had felt uncomfortable.
Inspector Mercieca said that PC99 Portelli had mentioned that there were meetings with Gatt and Fabio Psaila at a shop in Siggiewi. He found that this was Ferdinand’s Bar near the parish church.
Defence counsel Edward Gatt asked the inspector why he felt uncomfortabel when he saw the accused at Balzan HSBC.
Had he asked what the accused had been doing there?
Insp. Mercieca said he did not.
Dr Gatt asked the inspector what he would say if told that David Gatt had gone there to cash his police pension cheque. Had he verified this?
Insp. Mercieca said he had not carried out any investigation at that point.
As the inspector stepped down, the sitting was adjourned to February 3.
Bail was refused and Dr Gatt was therefore remanded in custody.