Penniless tourist assaults officers 'to get himself arrested'

In what is possibly the most ill-advised travel plan in recent Maltese criminal history, Gambian-born Swedish passport holder James John Konteh, 24,  decided that he needed to be flown home at the state’s expense after he had spent all his €1500 spending money. To this end he walked in to the Marsa police station, demanding he be repatriated, assaulting a police officer when told that this was not possible.

Inspector Jason Paul Sultana charged the man with assaulting a police officer, disobeying police orders, causing slight injuries to police officers, breaching the peace and causing criminal damage to the police car.

The accused refused a legal aid lawyer, saying he wanted someone of his own choice instead. He claimed that his lawyer would be paid for by his insurance in Sweden and that his insurance company was waiting for an answer.

Magistrate Giovanni Grixti patiently asked him on several occasions whether he wanted to be represented by a legal aid lawyer. He said that he “wanted a private lawyer,” specifically a Swedish lawyer. In view of this, the court noted that he chose to represent himself, the legal aid lawyer withdrawing from proceedings.

Konteh was unable to understand that he was not entitled to a Swedish lawyer and continued to protest with the translator, making no effort to keep his voice down while the charges were read out to him.

The magistrate, evidently irritated by his constant loud talking, asked the translator to explain that “He doesn’t need to speak now. He needs to listen”.

Asked to justify his arrest, Inspector Jason Paul Sultana explained that in the night between the 22 and 23 May, the accused had gone to the Marsa police station claiming to be homeless. He asked to be deported to Sweden as he had no money. The police had tried to explain to him that they could not do this, but Konteh continued to insist that he wanted to be deported, eventually threatening to commit a crime so as to justify this.

To their credit, the police had even tried to find him temporary accommodation at the YMCA, but he was refused as a letter of recommendation was required, so he was taken to the Marsa open centre. He became aggressive at that point and attacked two policemen.

Inspector Sultana told the court that he had refused to consult a lawyer on two separate occasions before his arraignment.

Konteh was asked whether he understood the charges and how he pleaded. He answered that he wanted to speak to a lawyer. The court entered a plea of not guilty on his behalf.

Asked if he was requesting bail, he said he did not understand but that “he thought so.” The court explained that if he did not, he would be detained under arrest until his case was decided.

He then asked whether, if he was refused bail, "there would be somewhere he can complain." He eventually requested bail.

Inspector Sultana objected to bail, pointing out that the crimes had been committed with the intention of being arrested. “The simple fact that the accused does not even have a fixed address for notification and the fact that the crime committed was a voluntary one militate against the granting of bail.”

The court remanded Konteh in custody.