Brandon Camilleri, 21, who gave a lift to a friend of his told a court that he was unaware of the criminal intentions of a an 18-year-old Mosta youth who is accused of a hold-up on a Mosta betting shop.

He also claimed that the accused tried to blame him for the hold-up. However, police investigations seem to have proved otherwise. 

Justin Scicluna of Mosta stands accused of an armed robbery at Izybet on 20 November. Initially, police had two persons in custody but arraigned only one, Mr Scicluna. The one who testified today said he did not willingly participate in the hold-up by giving the accused a lift, hence the sole arraignment of Mr Scicluna.

The case, presided by Magistrate Joe Mifsud, found enough prima facie evidence to place Mr Scicluna under a bill of indictment. He was remanded in custody.

Magistrate Mifsud argued that at times a lot is being done to protect the interests of individuals arraigned in court who are charged with such crimes, but the interests of society were not being safeguarded.  He therefore ruled “in favour of society” and remanded the accused in custody. Dr Mifsud also pointed out that when such crimes takes place, it instills a lot of fear in people.

The witness explained that Mr Scicluna had asked him to give him a lift while they were playing Playstation online. It is understood that the two could communicate with each other via headsets while enjoying their Playstation games. He said that the accused never told him who this friend he needed to give him a lift to was.

“I collected Justin and he asked me to drop him off and to wait for him in a street in Mosta,” he further explained.

“I drove the car off, since Justin did not drive, and we started to hear sirens wailing in the vicinity. Justin told me to hide with him in some fields in Mosta and this is when I asked him what he had done. It did cross my mind to abandon Justin but he kept insisting I stay near him. I also saw him change his clothes soon after he came back into the car,” he continued.