The Malta Police Union is dismayed and disappointed by the plea deal struck in the HSBC heist case.

Darren Debono, known as it-Topo, sensationally pleaded guilty to his involvement in the 2010 heist on the eve of the beginning of the trial by jury of Vincent Muscat in connection with the same heist. Debono was sentenced to 10 and a half years in prison for his involvement in the heist, but had charges for attempted murder on a policeman dropped to attempted grievous bodily harm. He will now testify as a key witness in the case.

In a statement, the Malta Police Union said: "it is making reference, without entering into the merits of a person's guilt, involvement or any other rights anyone has to defend himself in a Court of Law together with any request an accused may put forward, to the HSBC Heist of 2010. The Union respects the fact that everyone is innocent until proven guilty by a Court of Law."

"The Malta Police Union is dismayed and disappointed by the fact that the Attorney General agreed to a plea deal with a suspect of attempted murder of a number of police linked to a gunfight, which occurred outside the HSBC Qormi branch."

"The plea deal included the attempted homicide charges that could have led to a far heftier sentence being dropped by the Attorney General. This is another step which is causing huge demotivation amongst our officers. There is no respect for the important and dangerous work our officers do on a daily basis."

The Malta Police Union reminds that justice must not only be done, but must also be seen to be done. "In this case the justice system as stirred by the Attorney General failed big time. The Malta Police Union invites the Attorney General, that for the next gun fight, she and members of her staff attend on scene, to feel how death looks like when it is so near."