VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Three young Sicilian men appeared in court in Malta after being charged with the theft of items valued at €40,000 from three individuals at a beach club in Qui-Si-Sana, Sliema. The accused are 25-year-old Simone Serrafino, 26-year-old Michele Messineo, and 23-year-old David Francesco Messineo.
The case dates back to July 20, when security personnel at a beach club alerted Sliema district police about a suspected theft involving the three men.
According to Inspector Ian Azzopardi, one victim was robbed of a watch and mobile phone worth over €2,300, while two others had their mobile phones stolen. The total value of the stolen items is estimated to be around €40,000.
The prosecution opposed the defendants’ request for bail, arguing that the three men have no ties to Malta and had been preparing to return to Sicily. The seriousness of the charges was also emphasised.
Defense lawyer Joseph Calleja, representing the men through legal aid, acknowledged that the accused were tourists with no connection to the country. However, he stated that if granted bail, they were willing to remain at the same hotel where they had been staying until a more permanent address could be arranged.
Calleja also insisted that their status as foreigners should not prejudice the case and that the presumption of innocence must be upheld—especially as the men had cooperated with police and provided clear accounts of the events in question. Despite the arguments, Magistrate Ann-Marie Thake denied the request for bail.
– Photo IPA Agency –
(ITALPRESS)
