Bulgarians accused of three hold-ups, remanded in custody

Two Bulgarian men were remanded in custody this afternoon after being charged with carrying out three armed robberies from gaming outlets over the past three months.

The suspected ringleader of the thefts, Atanas Dimitrov, a 32-year-old mechanic from Bulgaria who has been living in Malta for four years, was accused of carrying out three separate hold-ups and of stealing more than €3,000 in the process.

Dimitrov was charged with aggravated theft from Izibet in Ta’ Xbiex on Friday, as well as from Izibet in Naxxar on November 23 and December 25. The man was also accused of holding the employees against their will, carrying a firearm and using violence.

Also arraigned today was Dimitrov’s suspected accomplice. The man, Radoslav Rachev, 23, also of Bulgaria, was charged of being an accomplice in last Friday’s hold up.

The two men pleaded not guilty and were remanded in custody due to the seriousness of the crimes and due to the fear of tampering with evidence.

The two men were arrested on Friday shortly after stealing more than €3,000 during an armed robbery at a gaming outlet in Ta’ Xbiex at around 11pm. Officers from the Rapid Intervention Unit had reacted to a report that the two men, one of whom was armed with a firearm, had entered the outlet and demanded the 20-year-old to hand over the day’s takings.

The suspected robbers were subsequently traced to an apartment in St Julian’s where they were arrested.

Police Inspectors Saviour Baldacchino and Gabriel Micallef prosecuted, while Lawyer Yanika Bugeja appeared for the accused. Magistrate Audrey Demicoli presided.