An unemployed man and his two teenage sons this evening were remanded in custody after pleading not guilty to a long list of charges including attempted burglary at a Marsa lotto office this morning.

Sources said the three of them were caught red-handed by the police while trying to break into the shop located at Racecourse Street. The man was allegedly waiting in the car while his sons attempted the break-in.

Keith Joseph Mallia, 44, together with his 18-year-old son Mario, and his 16-year-old brother whose name cannot be published by court order were arraigned before Magistrate Donatella Frendo Dimech.

The father alone was also accused of driving a car with an expired licence and not covered by an insurance policy.

In addition he was charged with committing a crime during the period of three suspended sentences, breaching the bail conditions relating to four other cases as well as relapsing.

His elder son was accused of breaching the bail conditions imposed last month and the provision of a sentence delivered by a court in March last year.

The 16-year old was accused of breaching the bail conditions imposed on him in two separate cases including a string of thefts from various kiosks.

The court denied a request for bail, and ordered the teenagers to be sent to the Young Offenders Rehabilitation Services and their father to Corradino prison.  

The Magistrate said that it was imperative for the two brotherswere kept away from their father.

"I tried to make you understand but now you will start facing the consequences of your actions" the magistrate told the minor, who had already appeared before her in a separate case.

The defence request a ban on the publication of names, but the court only accepted a ban on the name of the 16-year-old. The court said ti had been the family's duty to ensure that its reputation was not tarnished.

Lawyers Franco Debono, Angie Muscat and Amadeus Cauchi were defence counsel. Inspectors Fabian Fleri and Robert Vella prosecuted.