A tape containing CCTV footage belonging to a jeweller charged with buying €350,000 of stolen antique items was found in the car of a missing man, a court heard yesterday.

Tape had things wife should not know about

It was recovered during investigations into the disappearance of 27-year-old Matthew Zahra, a friend of George Tabone, 53, who owns the jewellery shop Gram Collections Limited.

Mr Zahra went missing last August.

Mr Tabone, who is pleading not guilty to the charges brought against him, told the police that he had given the footage to Mr Zahra to ensure his wife would not come across it because there were things in it she should not know about.

Mr Tabone was arraigned after three jewellery thieves claimed they sold the stolen goods to him.

Police Inspector Melvyn Camilleri testified that the tape was found in Mr Zahra’s car, which was normally used as a taxi.

Police Inspector James Grech said that the names of three men surfaced while investigating a jewellery theft from a shop – Pjazza Antiques – in South Street, Valletta. The men – Glen Debattista, 52, his son, Ryan, 21, and their friend, Carmel Hartley, 40 – admitted stealing the jewellery, worth €500,000, which they split equally according to the price tags on the items.

Mr Debattista said that he had sold his share and that of his son to Mr Tabone.

He told the police that whenever he went to see Mr Tabone at his Birkirkara shop, the accused would deactivate the CCTV cameras,Mr Grech told the court.

Records from the equipment showed that the cameras had been switched off 41 times in 220 days, the officer said.

Mr Tabone’s former secretary, Josianne Ciantar Bonnett, denied in court that stolen gold was ever purchased and called Mr Debattista a liar for alleging he sold it to them.

The case continues. Lawyer Michael Sciriha appeared for Mr Tabone.