A young man allegedly plotted with a gang of three to break into the Birkirkara home of his own employer, a court heard on Tuesday.

Nigel Calleja, a 19-year old from Iklin, was arrested after incriminating CCTV footage put investigators on his tracks. He was charged with the attempted theft that was aggravated by violence.

The young man had allegedly betrayed the trust of his employer who had even entrusted him with the key to the private residence, prosecuting Inspector Elton Taliana pointed out, adding that another two of the suspects had been arraigned earlier on, while the fourth man was still at large.

The arrests followed a report that masked men had tried to break into the Birkirkara home, with CCTV footage enabling investigators to identify Mr Calleja.

“The investigation is still open and the police are still speaking to people. The case is not a clear-cut one,” Inspector Taliana explained.

After pleading not guilty, Mr Calleja, through his lawyer Rachel Tua, made a request for bail, arguing that he had kept all appointments and fully cooperated while under police bail. Moreover, the strict watch of his father would ensure that bail conditions were respected, Dr Tua continued.

Lawyer Franco Debono, appearing for the victim, informed the court that the man had betrayed his client’s trust and that, worse still, a two year-old child had been inside the house at the time of the attempted break-in. He asked that his client be safeguarded.

Opting to give the young man “one chance” rather than remand him to “the university of criminality”, Magistrate Francesco Depasquale upheld the request for bail against a personal guarantee of €10,000 and an order to sign the bail book on a daily basis as well as to observe a curfew.

He was ordered not to speak to any of the witnesses, including his former employer or workplace colleagues, as well as not to approach the residence or workplace of the alleged victim.