Three in court after attempted robbery in St. Paul's Bay

Three people have been arraigned in court, accused of attempting to steal from slot machines at a St. Paul's Bay bar and restaurant.

Jeffrey Cassar, 32 from Mosta, Dylan Cardona, 22 from St Paul's Bay and Russian born Siggiewi resident Albina Ryabinina, 19 appeared under arrest before magistrate Donatella Frendo Dimech this afternoon.

Inspector Godwin Scerri accused the trio of attempting to rob a commercial establishment in the seaside town, an attempted crime that was aggravated by violence, means, value and time and which had been abandoned for reasons independent of their will.

Cassar and Ryabinina were further charged with committing theft, aggravated by value, means and time, after allegedly stealing cash from the Qawra Palace Hotel earlier this month.

Ryabinina alone was also accused of aiding and abetting the men in committing aggravated theft.

Cassar alone faced an additionally charge of recidivism.

Lawyer Noel Bianco, defence counsel to the three informed the court that only Cardona was admitting the charges, whilst Cassar and Ryabinina would be pleading not guilty.

Magistrate Frendo Dimech ordered a pre-sentencing report to be drawn up for Cardona, whose punishment will be handed down on Wednesday. He will be remanded in custody till then, as will Cassar and Ryabinina, whose requests for bail were turned down by the court.