Alleged stalker in David Gatt case remanded in custody
A man who stands accused of stalking the star witness in the police case against former police inspector David Gatt has been remanded in custody after being accused of stealing a computer from the Radisson Blue Resort in St Julians.
Romeo Bone had been on bail after having been accused in February of stalking PC99 Mario Portelli, who, the police claim, lifted the lid on the alleged criminal activities of Dr Gatt.
Mr Bone, a convicted criminal, was accused today of stealing the computer on July 4, committing the crime during the operative period of a suspended jail term, and relapsing.
In giving his particulars to the Court registrar, Mr Bone said he currently works at a car wash and is also training to work for Arriva.
He pleaded not guilty to the new charges.
Mr Bone's lawyer, Dr Joe Giglio, argued during pleas for bail that his client had first to be found guilty of stealing the computer before being accused of violating the conditions of previous court sentences.
Poice Inspector Anthony Portelli said the court was dealing with a repeat offender with a long criminal record. He knew exactly what he was doing and was not a first time offender.
Magistrate Clare Stafrace Zammit remanded him in custody.
(Arriva contacted timesofmalta.com to say that they have no record of any Romeo Bone working for them or under training.)
Popular Stories
Update 3: Woman found dead in car,...
Updated: Woman dies in car crash
Carm Mifsud Bonnici resigns after...
Part of Dwejra 'Azure window' collapses
The end of the bar that ‘never closed’
Bundy does not know whether to...
Updated - Jason Micallef demands...
This WAS the night - Kurt makes it...
'No need for early election if PM's...
In Discussion
Updated - Jason Micallef demands...
Gozo tunnel could take 5-7 years to...
CABS remote controlled aircraft shot...
Carm Mifsud Bonnici resigns after...
Joseph Calleja condemns portrayal of...
Updated: Labour would give...
CABS drone shot down
Second group of migrants arrives
Adrian Vassallo in scathing...
20 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
Victor Vella
Jul 20th 2011, 20:26
(Arriva contacted timesofmalta.com to say that they have no record of any Romeo Bone working for them or under training.)
And I hope to God that Arriva would never hire repeat offenders.
Mr twanny borg
Jul 20th 2011, 17:55
minghajr ma nidhol f'dan il-kaz partikulari. il-fatt huwa li persuna li ghaddejja proceduri kriminali ma tistax tibqgha maqfula l-habs sakemm il-kaz jigi deciz. fil-bicca l-kbira is-sentenza tigi moghtija wara hafna snin. dan jghodd kemm ghal min huwa hati u kemm ghal min huwa innocenti. dan huwa li jrid jigi irrangat ghax dan ma jaghmel gustizzja ma hadd hlief ghall-avukati li kull darba li jitla l-qorti trid thallsu kemm jekk int hati u kemm jekk int innocenti.
Mr mark johnson
Jul 20th 2011, 16:00
Romeo, wherefore art thou?
In corradino my old cocker.
c.t. busuttil
Jul 21st 2011, 17:18
Actually, 'wherefore art thou' means 'why are you' and not, as commonly understood where are you. Juliet was pining that Romeo was from the enemy family Montague, and not Borg or Vella, in which case their alliance would have borne no problem :)
Mr Neil Dent
Jul 20th 2011, 16:00
'....Arriva contacted timesofmalta.com to say that they have no record of any Romeo Bone working for them or under training....'
Thank goodness for this clarification! The last thing the beleaguered new operator needs is press as bad as this.
Mr Henry Mifsud
Jul 20th 2011, 14:02
Irrespective of the outcome of the pending cases, someone must question whether Romeo Bone is fit and proper to be assigned the responsibility of driving an Arriva bus on our roads (I am assuming this is what he is being trained for unless there is also training for washing buses!) . Such a role entails great responsibility and to my book, relapsing is not exactly a good qualification for such a sensitive job. Our commuters deserve better for sure!
One would be led to believe that good screening should have eliminated unfit candidates in the first instance.
Alistair Busuttil
Jul 21st 2011, 08:00
arriva contacted the times of malta to say they have no person employed with them named romeo bone,Cant you read!
Mr Joseph N. Attard
Jul 20th 2011, 13:51
The arguments that criminal lawyers come up with to try to get people off the hook astound me. But then, I'm not a lawyer.
Adele Mintoff
Jul 20th 2011, 15:19
Lawyers are paid to defend criminals too. Sickening truth that makes me hate lawyers with a passion.
Charles Sammut
Jul 20th 2011, 16:36
so if u not lawer let d lawer s handle matters
Mr Antoine Vella
Jul 20th 2011, 20:16
Adele Mintoff, lawyers do not defend only criminals. They also defend innocent persons accused of being criminals.
jack bristow
Jul 20th 2011, 13:37
When will society, parlamentarians, magistrates and everyone understand that people who earn their living from their criminal actions should never be granted bail?
Once out, its back to business, stealing or even more sinister crimes!
When will Maltese start to understand??? Its time to change system when dealing with these kind of criminals.
One's duty is the other's right, one's lackness of action is the other's breach of right for protection.
JOSEPH VELLA
Jul 20th 2011, 13:35
THIS SEEMS NOT TO BE A BRIGHT FUTURE FOR ARRIVA
Mr Angus Black
Jul 20th 2011, 13:19
Presently training to work for Arriva?
Has Arriva not learned anything out of not doing background checks before spending good money after bad prospects?
The last place for Mr. Bone to be is around buses. This man would require constant supervision.
John Brown
Jul 20th 2011, 14:15
He may not be telling the truth.
Adele Mintoff
Jul 20th 2011, 15:22
Read the bottom line of the article.
Mr Antoine Vella
Jul 20th 2011, 13:18
I guess Arriva just lost a prize driver.
Ms Rudi Mcbeal
Jul 20th 2011, 13:15
Why was this criminal out on bail and not locked up in jail in the first place? No wonder this country is going to the dogs.
Mr Ian Micallef
Jul 20th 2011, 13:04
In training to work with Arriva ... incredible, no screening process to employ drivers ?? Are we this desperate?
E. Vassallo
Jul 20th 2011, 17:10
Read the whole article....You seem to jump to conclusions