Two friends of a man who had allegedly given them access to his father's house to steal €18,000 in cash and €2,000 in gold were yesterday charged with theft.

Gordon Dimech, 33, and Christian Tanti, 24, both of Ħamrun, were allegedly given the keys to the house, situated in their hometown, and told where to find the safe and when to enter on Sunday, Police Inspectors Daniel Zammit and Joseph Agius are alleging.

The men are pleading not guilty to theft and relapsing.

Defence lawyer Joseph Giglio, appearing for Mr Tanti said the person who pointed his finger at the two men, 19-year-old Josef Demicoli, was not being charged because his father, Domenic, did not want to press charges against his son. Yet, Dr Giglio added, the court should know what sort of person had accused the two men of stealing from his father, a person who tried to hide the fact that he was the culprit.

Lawyer Veronique Dalli, for Mr Dimech, agreed, saying the police were so unconvinced of the two men's guilt that investigations were still ongoing on the morning of the arraignment.

Dr Giglio insisted that their clients flatly denied the allegations made by the police and, more so, by Mr Demicoli.

Dr Dalli said that her client could not possibly have been involved because he was at a bar in Marsascala at the time the police say the theft occurred.

Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera remanded both men in custody after taking into consideration the strong possibility of tampering with evidence if granted bail.