Extradited Italian man pleads not guilty to armed robberies
The man denies involvement in the armed robberies of a hotel and betting shop
Updated 11.04am with arraignment
An Italian man extradited from Italy has pleaded not guilty to involvement in the armed robberies of a hotel and betting shop last year.
Manuel Bryan Melis, 27, an Italian national living in Germany, appeared in court Thursday charged with aggravated theft following a robbery at Fairbet on Triq iċ-ċern, St Paul’s Bay, on January 16, 2024.
He was also accused of holding the attendant against his will and carrying a knife or a sharp-pointed instrument in public.
The man was also charged in connection to an armed robbery from a hotel in St Paul’s Bay where he was accused of aggravated theft charges and wilful damage to the property.
It is understood that the man was recognised from CCTV footage.
In a statement early on Thursday morning, the police said the accused had been brought to Malta late on Tuesday night escorted by three Maltese police officers after being apprehended in Italy on the strength of a European Arrest Warrant.
Bail was not requested and the man was remanded in custody.
Magistrate Claire Stafrace Zammit presided.
AG lawyer Manuel Grech prosecuted assisted by police inspectors Lydon Zammit and Shawn Pawney.
Lawyer Giannella De Marco appeared for the accused.
A previous version of this article erroneously referred to an alleged robbery of a toy shop in St Paul's Bay, rather than a betting shop. The error is regretted.