A court today ruled that there is sufficient evidence on which to indict five Eastern Europeans for their role in a number of burglaries in Sliema this summer.

Kartlos Dolaberidze, 41, from Georgia, Kryzsztof Tadeusz Latocha, 30, from Poland, Algirdas Sliogeris, 48, from Lithuania, Adilet Shakirgazieva, 28, from Kyrgyzstan and Mate Oniani, 25, from Georgia - all pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit a crime, participating in organised crime, forming part of a criminal organisation and receiving stolen goods.

Two police officers described conducting CCTV and undercover surveillance operations in the Qawra area after a number of similiar burglaries in the Sliema area.

During the course of their investigations the police were directed to the Qawra apartment block where the arrests were made.

Lawyer Joseph Mizzi, defending the five, argued that Mr Oniani and Ms Shakirgazieva should not have been made to face the same charges as the other three.

He pointed out that CCTV footage and witnesses had consistently told the same story involving three men.

Ms Shakirgazieva was being linked to the burglaries simply because she shared a flat with them and Mr Oniani had just arrived in Malta the day before, which meant he was not part of the planning process, the lawyer argued.

Magistrate Josette Demicoli denied this request, holding that after taking into account the evidence the court has seen thus far, there was sufficient prima facie evidence to place all the persons accused under a bill of indictment.