Bail for both HSBC heist suspects

A Magistrates Court yesterday released two men on bail who stand charged with the attempted murder of police officers by shooting more than 60 rounds from a Magnum gun towards them, as well as kidnapping policemen and security officers, and attempting to rob the HSBC Bank Centre in Qormi.

Vincent Muscat 38 known as ‘il-Kohhu’ and 33 year-old Darren Debono known as ‘it-Topo’ were granted bail against a deposit of €5,000 and personal guarantee of €15,000..

For Muscat it is the second time that he has been granted bail, as the first decision issued on September 28, was revoked  by an Appeals Court that upheld an urgent request filed by the Attorney General who reacted to the news revealed by MaltaToday that a ‘dangerous suspect’ had been released.

Another attempt by Muscat to be freed on bail was then revoked last week by Judge David Scicluna.

A fresh application for bail this time by both suspects was heard yesterday, and was granted by a Magistrate’s Court.

The Attorney General was given a day's chance to appeal before the bail decision becomes effective.

Muscat and Debono, are each facing a total of 18 charges.

Darren Debono still has splinters from a return shot fired from a police officer’s pistol during the dramatic shoot-out lodged in his jaw.

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Luke Camilleri
Why were they let off/ Not enough funds to pay off their lawyers ? Magistrates, lawyers , the accused are fast becoming one Coterie gaining from the spoils of the law-abiding victims...... is this the law we must abide to? We have come to a state that in planning crimes, one just makes the allowance for Lawyer's fees and "other expenses" before splitting the spoils! Never has the local Courts of "Justice" been looked upon with such disgust since the time of the bribery of the Chief Justice! Shame Shame Shame!
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Who the hell appoints these magistrates?
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Monique Cauchi
Only in Malta as they say! What a crazy legal system you have over there. What other country in the world would give bail to hardened criminals accused of attempted bank robbery, attempted murder of police officers and kidnapping. It really is a joke. Was the Magistrate a family friend or something?
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Michael Gauci
I think something needs a serious looking into regarding this ridiculous episode. As Joe South has already stated,how can a magistrate do this after a Judge revoked bail only last week after an appeal. Allowing obvious violent psychopaths out on the street puts everyone in danger.
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me me mela jien naf gerfixni ha nifmek
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Zack Depasquale
Jaqaw ma baqghax spazju il-habs ghax dan l-ahhar hlief sentenzi sospizi m'ahniex nisimghu
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Alfred Galea
How can someone whose bail was revoked by an Appeals Court be granted bail by the Magistrate's Court?? I would hope, for the sake of everybody that the AG will appeal BOTH cases.
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Qeghdin sew ma hargux mill bieb, hargu mit-tieqa. Ara jekk jkunx hawn min jaghti tort lil pulizija jekk jaghlqu ghajnejhom meta jaraw xi reat issr.Shame wara li jpoggu hajjithom on the line issibu lil min l'anqas bis jaghti kas....dawn tnejn min nies jekk tista issejhilhom nies li ghandhom 18 il akkuza kull wiehed u qieghdin barra qiesu qatt ma garra xejn liberi biex jjun jistu jaghmlu xi bawxata ohra...gharukaza