The Police Terrorism Branch on Monday arrested a Maltese man in connection with an investigation into the use of material for explosives, the police said. The court said it was convinced that the media would faithfully report the charges, and in view of the fact that the man was not a minor, it denied the request. Inspector Zammit opposed the request, saying that the man was of age and the charges were serious. The man was young and had a family, argued the lawyer, saying that once tarnished his name would never be rehabilitated. He was arrested by the anti-terrorism branch of the police. Valenzia asked that the man’s name be banned from publication as media reports had mentioned terrorism charges, but the charges against him were not terrorism-related. Legal Aid lawyer Benjamin Valenzia entered a not guilty plea on the man’s behalf. Inspector Omar Zammit explained that the police had been investigating the case since August 28 last year. In the meantime, the magistrate urged the police to exhibit its evidence as soon as possible.The accused stood arms crossed in the dock tapping his foot impatiently as the charges were read out. The court will issue a decree on bail from chambers. “Whilst it is good to know that he will give us his passcodes, the gravity remains as the intended target has not yet been identified,” Cremona said. Inspector Omar Zammit and Superintendent George Cremona objected to the bail request, arguing that the case was a grave one and that investigations were still underway. ![]() Valenzia requested bail for Calleja Maatouk, arguing that the accused was presumed innocent, all civilian witnesses had testified and that the accused had been on police bail for separate drugs charges for 2 or 3 months and had never tried to abscond. The owner of a car showroom in Qormi also testified, identifying the accused as having entered into an agreement with him over the showroom.Īnother property owner told the court today that he too had leased a property to the accused and a Marzia Maatouk.ĭefence lawyer Benjamin Valenzia informed the court that the accused was willing to give up the passwords to his electronic devices – seized as part of the inquiry into the accused’s attempted procurement of C4 and radioactive polonium, which is still underway. The MFSA had concluded that Jomic Grech and Jomic Calleja were one and the same, said the witness. Today the witness said that he recognised the accused from his social media photos. The company was not registered at the MFSA, he said. A Lovin Malta promotional article for Bitcoin and Autotrader also indicated the same Qormi address, he said. Two addresses for Calleja had emerged from the records, one in Lija and one in Qormi, he said, adding that a social media search had found a Jomic Grech with many profile links to Bitcoin and Autotrader posts. ![]() ![]() An investigation was launched, which identified Calleja’s company, Bitcoin and Autotrader. A Vodafone representative was summoned to provide call logs and localisation information relating to the accused’s mobile phone number.Īn MFSA representative later took the stand, telling the court that the authority had received intelligence about a Jomic Grech or Jomic Calleja and an entity which was trading in Bitcoin without authorisation from MFSA.
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