The manager of a sushi restaurant told a court this morning how she reviewed CCTV footage of a burglary with an employee who is now one of the accused.

Masako Hirota was giving evidence in the case against Joseph Anthony Cini, 42 of Valletta and Stephen Abdilla, 41 of Marsa, who are accused of stealing cash and a safe from the restaurant in Paceville, and former employee Alfred Mazzitelli, 50, of Pembroke, who stands charged with aiding and abetting, having allegedly masterminded the operation.

All are denying the charges.

Some €14,000 were stolen from the restaurant.

Hirota said she had been told on the phone by Mr Mazzitelli himself that the restaurant had been broken into. She then went to the restaurant and reviewed the CCTV footage, in which she recognised two of the accused. Mr Mazzitelli, who watched the footage with her, was not shown.

She said the cash had been in a safebox bolted to the bottom of the counter by Mr Mazzitelli himself.

The case continues.

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