Three men were yesterday charged with stealing a van and shotgun and driving around Malta illegally.

Alfred Bugeja, 48, Malcolm Mifsud, 21, from Sliema and 18-year-old Luke Farrugia, from Gzira, pleaded not guilty to stealing a Toyota Hilux van worth more than Lm1,000 on 15 May to the detriment of Raymond Pirotta.

The three were also accused of being in possession of a firearm without the necessary permits and of driving around Malta without a valid licence or insurance cover.

Alfred Bugeja and Malcolm Mifsud were accused of relapsing while Luke Farrugia was accused of breaching the conditions of a previous release.

The court, presided over by magistrate Giovanni Grixti, turned down bail applications on the grounds that the police still had to produce the main eyewitness to testify. Police inspector Geoffrey Azzopardi prosecuted while Dr Kris Busietta, Dr Edward Gatt and Dr Franco Debono appeared for the defence.