Men charged after disturbance in Zabbar square

Two men have been handed suspended sentences after threatening each other with weapons after an argument in Zabbar last night.

Zabbar resident Gareth Chlach, 18, and 20 year-old Youssef Samah, from Gaza, appeared before magistrate Ian Farrugia this morning, charged with insulting and threatening each other and breaching the peace. The men were arrested last night after police reacted to reports of a disturbance at St James Square, Zabbar.

Chlach was also accused of attacking or threatening an unidentified third party using arms improper, whilst Samah, who resides at the Marsa Open Centre, was charged with carrying a knife in public without permission from the Commissioner of Police, possession of a weapon during the commission of a crime against the person and relapsing.

Defence counsel, lawyers Benjamin Valenzia and Leontine Calleja, entered guilty pleas on behalf of the men.

The court handed down sentences of three months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years, warning the men of the implications should they be convicted of another crime in the two-year period.

Police inspector Josric Mifsud prosecuted.