Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1356256
POLICE investigating the failed heist on HSBC Bank headquar- ters in 2010 were convinced the criminals received inside help but all clues led to a "dead-end", MaltaToday has learnt. A former police officer close to the investigation at the time told MaltaToday that investiga- tors had their suspicions but evi- dence was lacking. "The criminals had a walk- through, gaining access by using electronic key cards that could have only come from someone inside. It was something we were convinced of and although we had our suspicions all leads led to a dead-end," the source said. Bank employees had been in- terrogated at the time but not enough evidence to take the matter to court was unearthed, the source added. The daring hold-up took place in the evening when three armed criminals walked into the build- ing over-powering the security guard and police officer on duty at the time. However, the hold- up failed when police on patrol noticed the waiting getaway car and gave chase. Eventually, the armed robbers walked back out and a shoot-out with police ensued. The audacious hold-up was cast back into the spotlight last week when two men accused of murdering Daphne Caruana Galizia indicated they had infor- mation on the involvement of an ex-minister and a sitting minis- ter in the botched heist 11 years ago (see separate story). The understanding is that the unnamed sitting minister may have provided the criminals with footage from inside the bank and access codes. Later on, in parliament, Na- tionalist MP Jason Azzopardi claimed that former economy minister Chris Cardona had in 2010 been arrested and inter- rogated in connection with the hold-up. However, Cardona has denied being arrested when contact- ed by MaltaToday. "I was never arrested. What Jason Azzopardi said is a lie," he said. Cardona did confirm though that police had asked him about lawyer David Gatt, who was "eventually arrested, accused and acquitted of all charges" linked to the heist. At the time, Gatt offered legal services from a Birkirkara office that belongs to Cardona. "The office was and still is my property. Gatt practiced there and later attended in one of the rooms upstairs to his clients. There were also other lawyers at that time," Cardona said. What Cardona told this news- paper tallies with information obtained from a source who was close to the investigation at the time. "Chris Cardona was spoken to by then police commission- er John Rizzo months after the heist and it was very likely linked to his professional connection with David Gatt on whom the police had received informa- tion," the source said. Gatt had been charged with masterminding the HSBC head- quarters hold-up and accused of heading a criminal gang that carried out several high-profile hold-ups during that period. One of the hold-ups involved the €1 million heist on the Balzan HSBC branch in 2007. However, police evidence against Gatt rested on the key testimony of police officer Mario Portelli, who was deemed unre- liable by the court because of mental health issues. Gatt was eventually acquitted of all charges in 2017. The cases against Darren Debono, known as it-Topo (not the footballer), Vince Muscat, known as il-Koħħu, and Fabio Psaila, who were charged with carrying out the heist are ongo- ing. Il-Koħħu would eventually be involved in the Caruana Galizia murder. He pleaded guilty last month and was sentenced to 15 years in prison after reaching a plea bargain agreement. Muscat has testified that he was told by Alfred Degiorgio and his brother George about the in- volvement of an ex-minister and a sitting minister in the HSBC heist. However, this is deemed to be hearsay evidence. Former police commissioner John Rizzo would not comment when contacted by this newspa- per about the claims that he had interrogated Cardona. "I will not comment and it is best if you direct your questions to the police force. If and when I am requested by any competent authority to assist or testify on what I found during investiga- tions, I will do so as is my duty," Rizzo said. The police would only say that the investigations on the HSBC heist in 2010 are ongoing. When asked whether Cardona had been interrogated under arrest at the time, the police would nei- ther confirm nor deny. "Kindly note that in view of Article 87 of the Police Act, we are not in a position to confirm or otherwise. Furthermore, in regards to the 2010 HSBC heist, investigations have never been closed," the police replied. maltatoday | SUNDAY • 28 MARCH 2021 10 NEWS The botched HSBC Bank hold- uwp in 2010 was cast back into the spotlight by Daphne Caruana Galizia's alleged murderers and PN MP Jason Azzopardi. Kurt Sansone revisits the events of the time A failed bank heist, Chris Cardona HSBC heist: the accused L-R: Vince Muscat, il-Kohhu, Fabio Psaila, and Darren Debono, it-Topo (not the footballer). The case is still ongoing, 11 years on. Chris Cardona (right, standing) was spoken to by then police commissioner John Rizzo months after the heist and it was very likely linked to his professional connection with David Gatt (inset) on whom the police had received information. Gatt was acquitted of all charges of masterminding the HSBC hesit