Knife-wielding man accused of stealing €1,280 from betting shop

A man, who allegedly carried out an armed robbery, entered a betting shop seeking to change a €50 note, before pulling out a knife and holding the cashier and demanding money.

Criminal proceedings against Manuel Bryan Melis resumed on Friday afternoon.

The Italian national, who was extradited to Malta late last month, is 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 with 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.

He is pleading not guilty

Taking the witness stand on Friday, sergeant Malcolm Pace said the police received a call from Fairbet’s company director at about 10.20pm informing them that a man had entered the outlet on Triq iċ-ċern and threatened an employee before making off with the cash.

CCTV footage showed that the suspect entered the betting shop at about 10:14pm. The man is seen nervous and fidgety. At that point, the employee was next to the slot machine before walking back to the cash register. At that point the suspect asked him to change a €50 note and then pulled out a knife and ordered him to place the money in the bag.

The suspect allegedly took a total of €1,280 and is seen leaving the outlet at 10:16pm.

Pace explained that the employee said the suspect spoke Italian and was wearing a pair of jeans, a blue hoodie and a grey beanie.

From the sergeant’s testimony it emerged that there was another Italian national, whom the police suspected was involved in the robbery but was later excluded. This other man was seen in the betting shop before the robbery allegedly took place.

The Fairbet employee and the other man filed a police report a day after the armed robbery. The pair knew each other because the latter was a regular customer. He had recognised the suspect from the CCTV footage shown to him by the employee as they were both from the same village in Sardegna.

The man filed a report suspecting that Melis had broken into his room and stolen his belongings. He told the police that he had seen Melis some days earlier and the accused reportedly told him that he was in Malta for a job interview. He gave Melis some money to buy food. He also told the police he had seen Melis entering the betting shop before quickly making his way out.

The third party filed a report in the evening of January 17, 2024, alleging that when he was leaving for work, he saw Melis inside the hotel where he was staying. When he later returned to his room, he found his laptop and watch missing. The man contacted Melis over Messenger asking him if he had stolen his things. The accused allegedly admitted and told him that he had stolen the items and where he had sold them. Melis also informed the man that he was willing to pay for the damages caused to the door but the latter had already paid up. The messages were provided to the police.

The third party was staying at a hotel paid for by his employer.

He also informed the police that Melis was set to leave the islands on January 17, 2024 after having asked him for money to buy the return ticket.

From the investigation it emerged that Melis left on that day to Milan, Italy.

A European Arrest Warrant was issued against Melis and he was extradited back to Malta.

Magistrate Kevan Azzopardi presided.

AG lawyer Manuel Grech prosecuted assisted by police inspectors Lydon Zammit and Stephen Gulia.

Lawyer Lara Attard appeared for the accused.