A 19-year-old Armed Forces of Malta soldier has been charged over a hit-and-run which left two men grievously injured in Mġarr and has been remanded in custody after his bail request was rejected.

Miguel Attard pleaded not guilty when he was arraigned in court on Sunday, facing charges of causing grievous injuries to both men through negligence, carelessness, lack of skill or failure to follow regulations.

He was also charged with fleeing the scene after committing an offence involving injury to a person, as well as speeding, damaging property and dangerous driving.

The incident happened at around 2am on Saturday in Triq l-Imġarr. When police arrived at the scene following the crash, they found neither the vehicle nor the driver involved.

Police subsequently began searching for the driver and later found a car in Mġarr which appeared to have been involved in the collision. The vehicle, which was parked outside a house, did not have a number plate.

Police knocked on the door of the house and Attard answered. According to the prosecution, he admitted that he had been involved in the incident and told police that he had fled the scene because he was afraid.

The prosecution said Attard also told police that he had later returned to the scene of the crash. However, by the time he returned, the two injured men had already been taken to Mater Dei Hospital.

According to the prosecution, Attard then decided not to tell anyone about his involvement in the incident and returned home.

His lawyer, Silvan Pulis, requested bail, but the prosecution objected, arguing that Attard had never approached the authorities of his own accord to disclose his involvement.

The prosecution said he was only identified after police located the vehicle and traced him to the house, rather than coming forward himself.

The court rejected the bail request and Attard was remanded in custody. Attard's parents were visibly shocked and emotional in court.

The two men who were injured in the crash remain in hospital in a stable condition.