Two men have pleaded not guilty to a string of armed robberies earlier this week in Sliema and San ĠwannAs reported by Times of Malta, Antoine Agius, 42, Ans Algheziwi, 37, pleaded not guilty to a raft of charges today in the Magistrates’ Court. These charges relate to three armed robberies, during which both men allegedly used a weapon and threatened staff.According to Police Inspector Lydon Zammit who spoke to the court, the first incident occurred on 2 July at around 1 am, when two men arrived at a convenience shop in Sliema driving a red vehicle, both bare-chested and with faces covered. They allegedly stole money and cigarettes.At 10 am, a Bolt driver was threatened by an attacker pressing a weapon to his neck and demanding money. The driver refused and the man fled with a bag containing around €500, stated the inspector.An hour later, a third incident occurred in San Ġwann, where two bare-chested men entered a pharmacy and demanded money, again using a weapon, as confirmed by the inspector.After a police investigation, all three incidents are believed to involve the same perpetrators and the same stolen vehicle, a red car reportedly taken from a Qormi residence on 1 July. Investigators also found evidence that a motorcycle and cash were taken from the same property, though the motorcycle was left behind due to the thief’s escape for time.Agius, who is reportedly homeless, was arrested at noon while driving the stolen car. Algheziwi, a Libyan national residing in Sliema, was arrested half an hour later at his home. Police found further evidence in both the car and the home.Algheziwi fell ill en route to police headquarters and spent a day under medical care at Mater Dei Hospital before being considered fit for questioning.The court heard that both men face multiple charges each, including aggravated theft, carrying a weapon during the commission of a crime, holding victims – including shop staff and the taxi driver – against their will, and in Algheziwi’s case, additional charges of stealing the car, motorcycle, and cash, damaging property, breaching bail conditions, and recidivism. Agius is similarly accused of handling stolen property, breaching bail conditions from 2018, and recidivism. Both men denied the charges.Neither defendant requested bail, although their lawyers asked that prison authorities consider whether they should be held at the Forensic Unit rather than Paola Prison.Magistrate Monica Vella is presiding over the case, with prosecution led by Magistrate’s Court lawyer Martina Calleja, assisted by inspectors Lydon Zammit, Keith Rizzo, and Dylan Pace. Agius was represented by Matthew Xuereb, while Yanica Barbara Sant provided legal aid to Algheziwi.The men are scheduled to return to court at a later date.•