Five accused of abducting man in case stemming from car thefts

Last updated 9.37pm

Five men were charged in court on Monday evening of having abducted another man in a case that stemmed from the theft of cars. 

The case allegedly happened in Rabat on Friday when the accused bundled their victim into a van and drove off towards Paola.

Their victim managed to escape at a petrol station and call the police.

Christian Borg, 28 of Swieqi, Thorne Mangion, 27 of Qormi, Tyson Grech, 26 of Senglea, Burton Azzopardi, 20 of Cospicua and Jeremy Borg, 20, of Qormi were all accused of abduction, holding the victim against his will, stealing up to €1,000 in cash, stealing a mobile phone, criminal conspiracy and making threats beyond the limits of provocation.

Christian Borg was separately accused of recidivism. Burton Azzopardi was accused of breaching two bail decrees and recidivism.

Jeremy Borg was charged with breach of bail, while under suspended sentence and recidivism. All pleaded not guilty. 

Inspector Roderick Attard told the court that the victim recounted to police that he was abducted from his garage in Rabat. The victim knew all of the accused, having previously had a working relationship - all the accused work in the car hire business, except...