Court told how Spanish woman assaulted policeman at Identity Malta offices

A magistrate heard a police officer deny pushing a Spanish woman who suffered a broken arm after she skipped the queue at the Identity Malta offices last month, insisting that he had used the least force possible.

Constable Anthony Theuma was testifying before Magistrate Joseph Mifsud in the compilation of evidence against 49-year-old Swieqi resident Yinette Consuelo Guaquirian Pedrique, who is accused of filing a false report against Theuma at Police Headquarters in Floriana on 22 June.

Pedrique is charged with knowingly accusing PC Theuma of a crime which he did not commit, breaching the peace, disobeying police orders and obstructing a police officer from carrying out his duties.

The court was told how, on 15 June this year, the woman had asked to be allowed to sit inside the Identity Malta offices, rather than queue outside, on medical grounds. However PC Theuma told the court that when inside, the woman had gone up to the reception desk and demanded she be given a number for her place in the queue. This was given by the receptionist, who was unaware that the woman had simply been allowed inside for the shade.

Several other people in the queue had complained, leading to the woman being asked to return the number. She refused, however, instead repeatedly shouting "f*** you" at the employees. 

Asked to intervene, Constable Theuma tried to restore order, only to be hit by the woman for his efforts.

He explained that he had managed to snatch the ticket from her hands only after repeatedly telling her to calm down. 

The court heard how around 20 minutes after the incident, the woman had gone to the passport office and assaulted a security guard, kicking and punching him. PC Theuma was once again called to provide back up.

Theuma said the woman, who was shouting at the top of her lungs, had continued to resist and hit him.

At one point, the officer allegedly told the accused to look out for the low barrier behind her, as she had started to move backwards. This notwithstanding, the woman tripped over the barrier.

As he attempted to help the woman back on her feet, he said, Pedrique started kicking him again. The officer then drew his pepper spray from its holster and warned the woman that if she persisted in her violent behaviour, he would have to use it on her.

The policeman’s account of woman’s disruptive behaviour was corroborated in court by the security guard and two clerks at the passport office. All confirmed that the woman had been screaming and walking backwards when she tripped over a low parking barrier and fractured her arm. 

The witnesses told the court how Pedrique had been allowed inside because she had claimed to be suffering from a photosensitive medical condition. The woman had physically shoved people out of her way to get to the front desk. At no point did the police officer touch the woman, they said. To the contrary, CCTV footage had suggested that the woman had not been pushed and criminal action was subsequently taken against her.

An Identity Malta representative is expected to testify when the case continues next week.

Police inspectors Justin Camilleri and Pricilla Caruana prosecuted. Lawyers Andrew Sciberras and Lara Dimitrijevic defended Pedrique.