European arrest warrant for convicted couple on the run

The police have issued a European arrest warrant for Jomic Calleja Maatouk and his wife who ‘probably fled to Serbia’

Calleja Maatouk (36) was convicted of importing explosives, and has been appealing a five-year jail term.

His wife Marzia Miramar Maatouk (23) was separately sentenced to 15 months in jail for cannabis possession with intent to sell.

Police sources said they believe the couple left Malta on a private boat and are probably in Serbia now.

Calleja Maatouk had been caught trying to import radioactive polonium-210, highly toxic ricin, the drug fentanyl and C-4 explosives.

The man was out on bail after he appealed his conviction but did not sign a bail book for a number of days.

He has a long criminal record and a history of absconding, as he was arrested in Sicily in 2015 after leaving Malta where he faced cannabis trafficking charges.