Two men were yesterday charged with stealing a total of approximately 200 litres of diesel from two trucks parked in Zebbug.

The men were allegedly apprehended as they tried to get rid of the seven jerry cans of diesel by throwing them into a field as they approached a roadblock in Rabat in the early hours of Tuesday.

Johnathan Sghendo, 19, from Valletta and Khalil Zina, 32, originally from Kuwait but who lives in Balzan, were charged with stealing a considerable amount of diesel from two trucks parked in Mikiel Ang Sapiano Avenue in Zebbug. They were also charged with receiving stolen goods and damaging the trucks.

Sghendo alone was further charged with driving a Volkswagen Jetta without an insurance cover while Zina alone was charged with relapsing.

Sghendo pleaded guilty to the charges brought against him, except that of driving the car without an insurance cover. Zina pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against him.

Magistrate Anthony Vella adjourned the case to this morning when he will hear more evidence in connection with insurance cover. He will also hand down Sghendo’s judgement.

Police inspector Daniel Zammit prosecuted. Dr Frank Cassar appeared for Zina while Dr Chris Cardona appeared for Sghendo.