Two men were yesterday charged with trying to set fire to a house in Birzebbuga and stealing two fire extinguishers from inside the same house at the beginning of May.

Pawlinu Cutajar, 45, from Safi and Karl Cutajar, 38, from Birzebbuga – who are not related – pleaded not guilty to trying to set the house on fire when they set fire to a curtain draping, the inner door and a nearby cardboard box at about 10.30pm on 1 May. They were also charged with damaging the house and stealing the fire extinguishers.

Magistrate Joseph Cassar granted the men bail against a personal guarantee of Lm500 each.

Police Inspector Joseph Agius prosecuted while lawyers Franco Debono and Joseph Giglio represented the accused.