The defendants are 22-year-old Ronald Mangion, 21-year-old John Bartoli, 18-year-old Charles Mizzi and two other boys who are not being named as they are minors. Bartoli comes from Birkirkara and the other four are from Luqa.
The five were charged with vandalising Hal-Millieri chapel, on the outskirts of Zurrieq, setting a Suzuki motorcycle on fire and damaging convex road mirrors, traffic signs, bus shelters, telephone boxes, pots and skips.
They were also charged with committing acts of vandalism at the airport service station, at Charvin Press and at Guzi Garage and with damaging a vending machine. Further charges were receiving stolen goods and failing to file a police report when they knew that the items in their possession were stolen.
Mizzi, Mangion and one of the two minors were charged with stealing and driving a motorcycle (which was later set on fire) without a driving licence or insurance.
Mizzi, Mangion, Bartoli and one of the minors were also charged with being in possession of cannabis denoting it was not for their exclusive use and with committing this crime within 100 metres of a place frequented by young people.
Mangion and one of the minors were also charged with vandalising a Peugeot Partner, possessing a weapon without a licence and firing the weapon close to a residential area.
Mangion and Bartoli were charged with driving a Maruti and a Suzuki without a licence. Mizzi was charged with selling cannabis and being in possession of ecstasy pills while Bartoli was charged with living off the immoral earnings of foreign nationals in St Julian’s. Mangion was charged with driving a car without a licence or insurance.
The crimes took place in Luqa, Zurrieq, Santa Lucia, Ghaxaq, Kirkop, Safi and Qrendi.
Magistrate Jacqueline Padovani Grima heard the men plead not guilty and placed them under house arrest. She gave permission to Mizzi, the only one of the defendants who works, to go to work every day but to return home immediately.
Police inspectors Stephen Mallia and Yvette Farrugia prosecuted.
Dr Edward Gatt, Dr Anglu Farrugia, Dr Ian Farrugia, Dr Gavin Gulia, Dr Joe Zammit McKeon and Dr Kenneth Grima individually appeared for the accused.