Merchant seamen accused of selling shotguns on black market

Two merchant seamen have been released on bail after appearing in court this afternoon, accused of trying to sell two pump-action shotguns on the black market.

Manolito Magri 35, of St. Venera and Albert Fenech 44, of Gharghur were arraigned before magistrate Antonio Micallef Trigona by Inspector Carlos Cordina.

The men were charged with possession of unlicensed firearms, importing said firearms to Malta without police permission and carrying a firearm during the commission of a crime. They also face charges of evading importation tax on the weapons.

Magri alone is further accused of being a recidivist.

The inspector explained that the men had been arrested yesterday in Gharghur, as the two shotguns were being transferred into separate vehicles.

Lawyer Arthur Azzopardi, appearing for the men, argued that the men had been caught while disposing of the weapons, out of fear. They had not want to have them in the first place, he said, adding that one of the weapons seized was not even in working order.

The amount of VAT and importation duty evaded was minimal, the lawyer added.

Both men's vehicles are subject to confiscation as a result of the charges, pointed out Azzopardi, adding that the cars had a “much higher value” than the weapons. He mooted the possibilitiy of filing civil proceedings for the release of the vehicles.

“The case is what it is, we have firearms involved,” countered inspector Cordina. He did not object to the defence's request for bail.

The court conceded bail to the men in view of the fact that only two shotguns had been involved, against a personal guarantee of €5,000. In granting them temporary release from custody, the magistrate warned them to abide by the conditions scrupulously or face a fine and an additional six months’ imprisonment. “This is how serious it is,” he said.