A 29-year-old man was yesterday jailed for six and a half years when he admitted to a string of hold-ups in April after his accomplice was jailed for four years the previous day.

Martin Cassar, unaided by a lawyer, was asked by Magistrate Antonio Mizzi if he knew what he was charged with and if he knew that pleading guilty would lead to a rather long jail term. His accomplice Bashir Abu Gasem Al Hariri, 35 was jailed on Tuesday after admitting to the same string of thefts.

Mr Cassar said he knew full well and was 100 per cent sure of his guilty plea.

He admitted to carrying out the armed robberies on April 4 at the gaming arcade Fairplay in San Ġwann; on April 7 at Fairplay in Birkirkara; on April 17 at Ambassador in Qawra and on April 19 at Playline in Marsa. He also admitted to an attempted hold-up at Fairplay in Paola on April 21 and to holding the various employees of the arcades at gun point and relapsing.

Magistrate Mizzi jailed him for six and a half years bringing into effect a two-and-a-half year suspended jail term.

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