PACEVILLE MURDER
Serb accused of killing Hugo Chetcuti has ‘armed robbery’ past, spent time in prison
The man accused of killing Paceville entrepreneur Hugo Chetcuti was using a false name and a fake passport and had a history of armed robbery, a former acquaintance has told Lovin Malta.
Bojan Cmelik, 35, stabbed Chetcuti twice in the stomach on Friday, 6 June. The businessman died six days later in hospital. The Serbian man was arrested after a chase and was later charged with attempted murder. That charge will now be converted to murder.
According to the report, the accused’s name is actually Bojan Mitic. He was reportedly using a fake passport in Malta.
The man was described as having a “rich” criminal history in Serbia and the Maltese police are investigating his past. Mitic had in fact served time in prison in Serbia. He had participated in many armed robberies in Serbia and was one of seven men arrested for armed robbery in Belgrade in 2005. Over six million Serbian dinars were stolen in the heist. Mitic managed to escape but was arrested a few days later. The police had found large quantities of cash, weapons, ammunition and ‘phantom’ cash registers in his apartment.
He spent six years in jail and was released in 2016.
The acquaintance said: “I’ve known Bojan since childhood. I remember he was an athlete, he liked basketball. I cannot believe he did this. He was normal.”
Mitic reportedly came to Malta shortly after his release from prison, finding work at one of Chetcuti’s establishments, where his brother also worked.
His brother fled Malta after Chetcuti’s murder, it has been reported.
The Malta Independent had revealed that the Serb was a former employee at one of Hugo’s establishments. A company spokesperson later said Mitic had been dismissed some eight months ago but there were no signs of animosity at the time.
Last week, lawyer Joe Giglio, who is representing the Chetcuti family, said the Serb had been sacked after he was found to be drunk on the job. The lawyer also said the accused was “mentally disturbed.”