Suspended police sergeant charged with misappropriating cab
Court told Glen Carabott has a drug issue
A suspended police sergeant was remanded in custody after pleading not guilty to misappropriating a cab.
Glen Carabott, 45, was back in court on Wednesday afternoon, where he was charged with misappropriating a cab and stealing the vehicle.
He was also accused of being in possession of 1.23g of cocaine, and having the drugs within 100 metres of a place where youths meet.
Additionally, he was charged with breaching his bail conditions and recidivism. In 2021, Carabott was granted bail after being charged with raping the victim of a burglary he was meant to assist.
On Wednesday, Carabott pleaded not guilty.
Police inspector Cheyenne Mangion explained that the owner of the vehicle filed a report on November 28, explaining that she employed Carabott to work as a cab driver and had given him one of her cabs to use. However, Carabott was not working frequently and made little profit. She requested that he return the vehicle, but he failed to do so.
In court, it emerged that there was no employment contract but a verbal agreement between the two, and the man was registered on JobsPlus.
Defence lawyer Mario Mifsud requested bail.
The prosecution objected, noting that although the woman had filed a report at the end of November, it was only last Saturday that the man was found after police officers noticed him in a parking lot.
It was also highlighted that the woman had not yet testified, and he knew who she was.
Mifsud countered that the case was “borderline” between criminal and civil. He noted that the woman requested the vehicle back for a week and a half, and for some reason, the man did not return it.
However, the woman went outside his house and took it back using the spare key.
He added that his client had a drug issue.
The court denied the man bail and remanded him in custody.
Magistrate Tanya Sammut presided.
AG lawyer Martina Muscat prosecuted, assisted by police inspector Cheyenne Mangion.
Lawyer Mario Mifsud appeared for the accused.