Maximilian Ciantar remanded in custody

Maximilian Ciantar, 24, of Marsa, was today remanded in custody after pleading not guilty to driving negligently and dangerously, to driving while under a court ban, and to driving without a driving licence and insurance.

24-year-old Maximilian Ciantar – who in 2010 was sentenced to jail after running over twin girls – was yesterday arrested in Qormi, a few hours after being allegedly involved in a traffic accident in Hamrun.Ciantar, of Marsa, was then allegedly seen threatening and insulting the drivers of a Ford Fiesta and a Toyota and then fled before police arrived at the scene.

An intensive search then ensued, with police subsequently apprehending Maximilian Ciantar at his grandmother’s residence in Qormi, hours after being seen driving in Hamrun. The incident was brought to police’s attention after eyewitnesses saw Ciantar crashing his vehicle into another car.

Ciantar, who was caught driving his mother's Renault, has been banned from driving since March.

Upon being apprehended by police,prosecuting officer Robert Vella told the court today that Ciantar was in a very “agitated” state and was subsequently transferred to Mater Dei. Ciantar, who in 2012 was fined €800 after being found in possession of heroin at Mater Dei Hospital, was then released from hospital shortly after.

In April 2010, Ciantar caused public outcry after running over and grievously injuring twin sisters while they crossed the road on a zebra crossing in Attard. He was jailed for 16 months and banned from driving. In 2011 he was jailed for a month after a magistrate found him guilty of having threatened journalists. The journalists were reporting a court hearing which found Ciantar guilty of violating a court driving ban. 

Accompanied by two officers, Ciantar also pleaded not guilty to damaging two cars, a Renault and a Toyota, breaching the peace, using indecent and vulgar language in public, threatening two people, breaching previous two court sentences, and of breaching the peace and disobeying police orders while in Mater Dei Hospital.

Prosecuting inspector Robert Vella told the court today that Ciantar's latest brush with the law was his sixth arraignment in a short period of time, and that it "seems that he is not learning from his mistaks." Inspector Vella requested that the court remands the accused in custody after claiming that he is not “trustworthy.”

Defence lawyer Joe Brincat told the court that the accused’s mother, whose car had been reportedly driven by Ciantar in the incident, allegedly did not know that her son had his licence suspended by court order.

Requesting the court to grant the accused help, the defence claimed that Ciantar would not be helped while being in detainment. 

Magistrate Audrey Demicoli denied bail and remanded the man in custody.

Lawyer Joe Brincat represented Ciantar while Inspector Robert Vella prosecuted.