Two men were yesterday charged with filing a false police report in order to defraud an insurance company when they allegedly set fire to a Peugeot 106 and then reported the fire and theft to the police.

The men are Christopher Carabott, 27, from Marsaxlokk, and Mario Caruana, 25, from Zejtun. They were charged with setting the car on fire in Rabat on 24 March 2006. They were also charged with filing false police reports on 24 and 25 March and with attempting to defraud an insurance company. Mr Caruana alone was further accused of relapsing. Before Magistrate Antonio Vella, the men pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against them.

Dr Michael Sciriha appeared for Mr Carabott while Dr Franco Debono appeared for Mr Caruana.