Two men who were arrested after a car chase which followed a supermarket hold-up, were this morning arraigned in court.

The two men, Manuel Ciappara of Birkirkara and Jesmond Portelli of Zabbar, both aged, 27, allegedly entered Greens Supermarket in Ta' l-Ibrag at about 4 p.m., brandishing knives and demanding cash.

They emerged within minutes with a bag containing some  €2,250 in cash. But as they drove off along the Coast Road, they were chased by the supermarket owner. 

He lost them in the chase but a police car intercepted the pair, and they were arrested in Naxxar.

Both accused pleaded not guilty to stealing the cash, holding Daiane Debono and Beverley Walker against their will, carrying weapons, tampering with a car's number plates, disobeying police orders and not residing at the addresses shown on their ID Cards.

Ciappara was also accused of driving dangerously while Portelli was accused of breaching the conditions of a number of previous releases.

Portelli requested bail while Ciappara did not, but both men were remanded in custody.