Man charged with assault and escaping police custody

Mohammad Ibrahim, an 18-year-old Libyan man residing in Santa Venera, was this morning charged in court with assault as well as escaping police custody following his arrest. Ibrahim was also charged with the possession of a knife without a police license.

The court heard how the incident took place on 5 June, when Ibrahim attacked a second man, Mahmud Giuma El Saadi.

Inspector Priscilla Caruana Lee told Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera that following his arrest, the accused had escaped police custody and could only be charged in court after his uncle had turned him in to the police.

Ibrahim pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against him.

Caruana Lee said it was not whether evidence in the form of CCTV footage of the assault was available, since police investigations had been delayed following his escape.

Scerri Herrera on the other hand noted that Mr Ibrahim had previously been charged with similar offences and had shown "a pattern of behaviour".

The court rejected a request for bail.