– Harsher bail conditions for youths involved in gang violence
– AG calls for stricter bail terms for young offenders in gang-related incidents.
Accident – Death – Obituary News :
The attorney general’s office has requested the court to impose tougher bail conditions on the group of five girls and one boy who allegedly attacked and robbed a 16-year-old boy in a public garden in Floriana. The incident, which took place near City Gate, resulted in the victim sustaining grievous injuries to his hands.
Urgent Application Filed Before Court of Appeal
An urgent application was filed before the Court of Appeal by the attorney general’s office, seeking to amend the bail conditions for the accused teenagers. The application was made especially since the alleged victim had not yet testified in the case.
Charges and Court Appearance
The group, consisting of individuals aged between 14 and 20, were charged in court after being identified as the perpetrators of the mugging incident. The victim was found by police with visible injuries to his face and hands, and was subsequently taken to Mater Dei Hospital for treatment.
Details of the Alleged Offenders
The group appeared before Magistrate Joseph Mifsud, with the 14-year-old boy and five females – one aged 17 from Paola, two sisters aged 14 and 15 from Gżira, a 15-year-old from Valletta, and 20-year-old Aicha Mariah from Paola – pleading not guilty to the charges. Three of the girls were accused of aggravated theft, while the 20-year-old faced additional charges of unlawful possession of a penknife and relapsing.
Bail Conditions and Prosecution’s Objection
Despite the prosecution’s objection to bail, the court granted bail to the accused under certain conditions, including a personal guarantee of €2,000 each, a curfew between 10pm and 6am, and strict orders not to approach the victim. The prosecution had raised concerns about the possibility of evidence tampering and had requested more stringent bail conditions.
Appeal for Stricter Measures
In an appeal filed by attorney general lawyer Kenneth Camilleri, it was argued that the initial court ruling had been too lenient on the accused teenagers. The appeal sought to impose more onerous financial deterrents and a supervision order to closely monitor the defendants.
Hearing Set for Monday
A hearing has been scheduled for Monday to consider the appeal and potentially amend the bail conditions for the accused teenagers. The victim, who identified one of the attackers as a 14-year-old boy from Żurrieq, is still recovering from his injuries.
Investigation and Arrests
Through intensive police work, including the analysis of CCTV footage and gathering of information, investigators were able to identify and apprehend the five suspects who were allegedly involved in the mugging incident.
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– Long-tailed keyword: AG seeks harsher bail conditions for youths in gang attack
– Long-tailed keyword: AG seeks tougher bail terms for youths involved in gang violence.
