Valletta jeweller George Tabone, who stands charged with accepting stolen precious items amounting to some €330,000, denied everything in police statements, a court heard yesterday.

Taking the witness stand, Inspector Joseph Mercieca said that following the theft of some €500,000 worth of antique jewellery from a shop in Valletta, three men were investigated and charged over the theft.

The men, Glen Debattista, 52, his son Ryan, 21, and their friend Carmel Hartley, 40, told police they had stolen the items and then sold them to Mr Tabone, who gave them a fraction of what they were really worth.

The inspector said that in a search of Mr Tabone’s property and shops, no stolen items were found. During the interrogation, Mr Tabone denied ever buying stolen jewellery.

In separate proceedings, Mr Debattista and Mr Hartley were jailed for three years each and the youngest member of the gang got a two-year prison term, suspended for four years, and a €500 fine.

The case continues.