[attach id=235826 size="medium"]Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi[/attach]

An inmate implicated in the theft and arson of a van yesterday claimed two well-known convicts had tried to extort money from him in exchange for telling the police the truth that he had nothing to do with the crimes.

Keith Pace, 31, from Marsa, testified that Alfred Bugeja, known as Il-Porporina, and Raymond Borg, Il-Borża, had asked him for €4,000 to tell the truth.

The case goes back to March 14, 2009, when a van was stolen and then torched.

Mr Pace, a father of five, was originally charged with Mr Bugeja and Mr Borg but the cases were separated after the latter two pleaded guilty and were jailed.

He said that on the day in question he had gone to sign the bail book at Ħamrun police station when he was arrested.

Mr Pace said he had recently been approached by Mr Bugeja in prison who told him he was prepared to tell the truth.

Mr Bugeja, the witness said, also told him to summon his lawyer so that he (Mr Bugeja) would reveal everything to him.

Recounting how he came to be involved, Mr Pace said Mr Bugeja had come to his home and asked for €100 and, by way of repayment, told him to take a box containing children’s clothing from his garage, which he could then sell.

Mr Pace took the clothes, which turned out to be stolen. He also made a copy of the key to the garage to ensure he would get paid, the witness added.

At one point, Mr Pace asked why he should be imprisoned when he did nothing wrong. “I’m always in prison. It is supposed to be a place of reform but it is anything but,” he added.

The case continues.

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