Egyptian man cleared of injuring girlfriend after complaint withdrawn

A court has released a man who allegedly dragged his ex-girlfriend into his car and drove off with her, after the alleged victim withdrew her complaint.

The court was told how, on 14 June this year, Egyptian-born Hussein Hamada, who is no stranger to the police, had been arraigned before the Gozo courts and charged with causing slight injury to his Maltese ex-girlfriend, breaching his bail conditions and relapsing.

Magistrate Joseph Mifsud had heard how the accused had bumped into his ex near Ramla bay in Gozo, as she was walking to her car. According to a report which the woman made at the Rabat police station, Hamada allegedly grabbed the woman and dragged her into his car, driving her to Xaghra, near Calypso's cave where the two spent an hour trying to talk through their differences.

The woman subsequently filed a police report and presented a medical certificate stating that she had suffered slight injuries in the incident.

The day after filing it, the woman informed the police that she wished to withdraw the criminal complaint upon which proceedings had been based.

But her father was having none of it and was adamant that the police should proceed against Hamada, which they did.

In its judgment dismissing the charges, the court pointed out that the police were obliged to respect the wishes of the complainant, and not a family member who had no juridical interest in the proceedings, and declared Hamada innocent.

Lawyers Franco Debono, Angie Muscat and Joseph Grech were defence counsel.