Two men were acquitted of several charges including armed robbery and holding people against their will.

Paul Michael Kavanagh and Jeremy James Farrugia were charged with stealing more than e2,329.27 (Lm1,000) in cash from the Maltapost Pietà branch, holding two men against their own will, using violence on the men, using a firearm during the commission of a crime and carrying the weapon without a police licence.

They were also charged with stealing a car from Birkirkara on 21 November 2006 and driving the car without holding an insurance policy on 27 November 2006.

They were also charged with stealing a digital camera from a shop in Fgura on 31 October 2006, of relapsing and committing a crime during the operative period of a suspended sentence. Mr Farrugia was alone charged with committing a crime during his probation period.

Magistrate Antonio Micallef Trigona acquitted the two as he concluded that the prosecution did not prove beyond reasonable doubt their guilt.

Police Inspectors Joseph Mercieca and Geoffrey Azzopardi prosecuted while Dr Chris Cardona was defence counsel to the accused.