Two from HSBC 'gang of four' charged with attempted murder, aggravated theft

Daren Debono, 33, born in Pieta and residing in Marsaskala and Vincent Muscat, 48, born in Birkirkara but without a fixed address were charged in connection with the attempted heist of HSBC's headquarters on 30 May 2010 at around 7:45pm in Ruzar Briffa Road, in Qormi.

The two men were arraigned with urgency in front of the Magistrates’ Court at around 4:45 pm and charged with aggravated theft exceeding €2,327 to the detriment of HSBC Bank(Malta) plc and other entities.

They were also charged with the attempted murder of police constables Kenneth Ciangura and Kurt Gauci, and firing a firearm in an inhabited area. Moreover, the two men were also charged with the aggravated theft of a Glock pistol from police constable Domenic Bugeja, and holding PC Bugeja, Jesmond Muscat and Ivan Azzopardi against their will and threatening them with murder.

They were also accused with the illegal possession of firearms in Qormi and in other parts of Malta, as well stealing a Kia Sorrento Car from Hal Mula Road, Zebbug on 16 May at around 6:30am to the detriment of Alfred Cauchi. They were also accused that on 1 June at around 10 am, they stole a Peugeot 206 vehicle from Sir Adrian Dingli Street in Sliema to the detriment of Julian Sultana not exceeding €2,327 in value.

The two men were also charged that on the night between 24 and 25 May 2010, they stole a set of registration plates from a VW Golf to the detriment of Vincent Zammit and fixing them on the Kia Sorrento car and exchanging the number plates of the Peugeot 205 and the Kia Sorrento car. They were also accused of receiving stolen goods on 30 May and in previous months, and of relapsing.

The two men pleaded not guilty to the charges present against them in Court. The defence called on the Magistrates’ Court to grant bail to the accused. The prosecution, led by Police Inspectors Joseph Mercieca, Keith Arnaud and Anthony Portelli objected to the defence's request, insisting that the two men were accomplices, and that there was a minor that was still expected to testify.

In his submissions on bail, Joseph Giglio, who appeared for Debono, insisted that the minor was in fact a 19-year-old man, Josef Terribile, who had even stolen twice from his father and was therefore not credible. Giglio told the Court how the police had been so unsure about their case that they did not decide to arraign the two men until late in the afternoon.

On his part, Chris Cardona, who appeared for Muscat, associated himself with Dr Giglio’s submissions. He added that since Muscat’s workshop, where he worked as a sprayer, was closed to Terrible’s residence, Muscat was ready not to go to his workplace until Terrible had testified. Muscat was also ready to live in a house in Cospicua until the court proceedings were concluded.

The Magistrates’ Court, presided by on duty Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera refused the defence's request for bail and remanded the two men in custody in view of the possibly of tampering with evidence, approaching of witnesses and the possibility that they could escape. The Court also ordered the prosecution to present Terribile at the next court hearing in connection with this case.

The men are said to belong to a gang of four, who allegedly attempted to rob the HSBC vault in Qormi last Wednesday. The heist was foiled as police officers arrived on scene and a violent shoot-out ensued, with ballistic experts establishing that as many as 67 rounds were fired at the police, who returned fire, injuring at least one robber who was grievously injured in the jaw and knee.

Investigations are said to have led the police into edging also closer to solving the Casino di Venezia heist in Vittoriosa some months ago, as a speedboat 'quite similar' to the one used for the robbers get-away was found in a hide-out in Marsa.