Two men from Zabbar were remanded in custody yesterday after they both pleaded not guilty to several counts of thefts.

Michael Micallef, 50, and Michael Mifsud, 21, were both charged before magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera with stealing a number of items worth over Lm1,000 from a shop in Marsascala and causing over Lm50 worth of damage to the detriment of George Grech.

They pleaded not guilty to stealing a number of items and cash, the value of which did not exceed Lm1,000, from a quarry and causing over Lm10 worth of damage to the detriment of the Saliba brothers in Marsascala on 5 April.

The two men were also charged with stealing a number of objects worth under Lm1,000 from a car in Swieqi and causing over Lm10 of damage to the car, to the detriment of Angelo Rowe on 30 March.

They also denied the charges of theft of a number of items, the value of which does not exceed Lm1,000, from a car in Marsascala on 24 September 2005 and causing over Lm10 worth of damage to the detriment of Mary-Rose Vella.

They also pleaded not guilty to stealing a licence plate from Valletta to the detriment of Anthony Mallia on 24 March and handling stolen items in a garage on 7 July in Marsascala.

Michael Micallef alone pleaded not guilty to the charges of stealing a number of items, including two mobile phones, cigarettes and cash worth over Lm1,000, from a supermarket in Marsascala on 11 May at around 11.15am.

He was also charged with holding people – three of whom were supermarket employees – against their will during the hold-up and being in

possession of a firearm.

Magistrate Scerri Herrera denied the two men bail and they were remanded in custody.

Police inspector Joseph Mercieca prosecuted while Dr Joe Giglio and Dr Noel Camilleri appeared for the two men.