No DNA evidence linking David Gatt to HSBC and jeweller hold-ups

A court expert who was asked to analyse DNA traces following last year's attempted hold-ups at HSBC headquarters and outside a jeweller's home in Attard said today that she had found no links to former Police Inspector David Gatt.

Dr Marisa Cassar was giving evidence when the compilation of evidence against Dr Gatt continued in court this morning.

Asked by Dr Gatt himself whether he had featured anywhere in the analyses, she said he did not.

Dr Gatt is alleged to have masterminded several high profile crimes. He has been accused of complicity in the attempted hold-up at the HSBC Malta headquarters at the end of June; the hold-up on a jeweller in Attard in early December, complicity in the attempted hold-up of a bank security van in Qormi in January; and complicity in the successful hold-up at Balzan HSBC branch in November 2007 when some €1m were stolen.

He was also charged with complicity in holding people against their will and helping people wanted by the police including Fabio Psaila, Darren Debono and Vincent Muscat before they were arraigned over the attempted HSBC depot hold-up.