The man charged with running over twin sisters aged 11 is back in prison after his father withdrew his guarantee for a €13,000 bail bond.

Maximilian Ciantar, 21, of Marsa was granted bail last May 20 by Magistrate Doreen Clarke on condition he does not leave Mount Carmel Hospital to be treated for drug addiction. However, the Constitutional Court found his fundamental human right had been violated because he had not been granted an effective release and was awarded €1,000 in compensation. Then, on June 22, he was granted bail against a personal guarantee of €10,000 and a deposit of €3,000.

The incident took place on Ħal-Warda Street at 7.15 p.m. last April 28 when the twins, Sarah and Rebecca Falzon, who had just finished Christian doctrine classes, were walking across a zebra crossing to get to the other side of the road where their father was waiting to pick them up.

Mr Ciantar allegedly rammed into the girls with his white van, throwing Rebecca against a car that had stopped to let them cross.

Mr Ciantar stands charged with seriously injuring the girls and driving without a licence or insurance. His father, Emmanuel, asked the court on Tuesday for permission to withdraw from standing as his son’s guarantor for the €10,000 bail bond. In a second request, which is awaiting decision, Mr Ciantar also asked to withdraw the €3,000 deposit made.

Magistrate Doreen Clarke accepted the first request and ordered the accused be re-arrested and held under preventative arrest until he could provide someone who would stand as a guarantor to the amount set by the court.

Mr Ciantar said his girlfriend would be able to guarantee the amount but the court refused, arguing she is 21-years-old, unemployed and living with her grandmother.