Zejtun man denies injuring policeman in car chase

The court opted to grant the accused bail but also issued protection orders in favour of each of the officers who were allegedly attacked

Upon being stopped, Desira had put his car into reverse gear, and sped off
Upon being stopped, Desira had put his car into reverse gear, and sped off

A 20-year-old delivery van driver from Zejtun has been charged with leading police on a car chase on Sunday, in which shots were fired.

Mar John Desira's Skoda Felicia Combi had been stopped at Three Cities Road in Bormla around 11:30pm on Sunday, by police officers from the Rapid Intervention Unit, carrying out routine checks on vehicles.

But upon being stopped, Desira had put his car into reverse gear, knocking over a police officer in the process, and sped off. The police officer was taken to hospital where he was found to have suffered slight injuries.

News reports say that Police fired shots in the ensuing car chase, before the car was eventually stopped at Hompesch Road in Fgura. Desira was arrested.

A search of the man’s vehicle recovered a small amount of cannabis resin and a knife.

Before magistrate Claire-Louise Stafrace, Inspector Christabelle Chetcuti charged Desira with cannabis possession, illegal possession of a knife, driving while intoxicated, slightly injuring a police officer through negligence, dangerous driving, speeding, failing to obey legitimate orders from the police and failing to obey a police officer's traffic-related instructions.

Lawyer Amadeus Cachia entered a plea of not guilty on Desira's behalf and requested bail, pointing out that the charges were, for the most part, contraventions.

Inspector Chetcuti objected to bail, because the eight officers involved in the chase, as well as the owner of the Skoda, were yet to testify.

The court opted to grant the accused bail against a deposit of €200 and a personal guarantee of €5,000. It also issued protection orders in favour of each of the officers allegedly attacked.