Two gas cylinder distributors were yesterday charged with stealing €10,000 worth of gas.

Raymond Sarcia, 51, from Qormi, and Fernando Cremona, 34, from Żejtun, pleaded not guilty to misappropriation, falsification of documents, fraud and stealing the cylinders between March and the previous months.

A third man, Roderick Camilleri, a former employee of Gasco Energy Limited, was two weeks ago found guilty of similar charges and was given a two-year prison term suspended for four years.

In pleas on bail, defence lawyer Joe Giglio argued that there was no need fear of tampering with evidence because the main witness in the case had already been sentenced.

Pointing out that granting bail should be the rule, not the exception, Magistrate Antonio Micallef Trigona granted bail to both men against a deposit of €1,000 and a personal guarantee of €10,000 each.

Police Inspectors Arthur Mercieca and Carol Fabri prosecuted.