Thief arraigned over foiled hold-up after accomplice spills the beans

A 28-year-old prison inmate who was accused of taking part in an attempted hold-up by an accomplice was today charged with burgling a confectionery and of being an accomplice in a foiled burglary in Qormi last year.

Wayne Delia, 28, of Paola, also pleaded not guilty to being in possession of a weapon, to relapsing, and to holding people against their will.

In June Delia was jailed for three months after he was caught red handed stealing foam, blades, and gel from Carter’s Supermarket on Valentine’s Day last year.

The court heard that apart from his Valentine’s Day theft, the accused was also implicated in an attempted hold-up of a pharmacy in Qormi, and a theft in Paola.

The alleged hold-up occurred on December 26, at around 8.30pm, when two hooded men entered the Drug Shop Dispensary in De La Cruz Street, Qormi while it was being closed for the day.

However, the two would-be robbers left empty-handed after the owners refused to give in to the robbers’ demands. The three people – two doctors and a pharmacist – were not injured but were left shaken after the incident.

The prosecution told the court that one of the would-be robbers, Andrew Busuttil, told the court that the accused had also participated, and that consequently the police arrested Delia.

Meanwhile, in the second case, Delia is alleged to have stolen cash and a packet of cigarettes from the Tic Tic Confectionery in Church Street, Paola. The alleged incident occurred on December 28 at around 3:40pm – just two days after the attempted hold-up.

Standing before presiding Magistrate Aaron Bugeja, Delia pleaded not guilty to the charges and was remanded in custody.

No appeal for bail was made since the accused is already in prison.

Inspectors Joseph Mercieca and Spiridione Zammit prosecuted.