Man fined €2,000 after demanding free meal at restaurant

A 40-year-old man has been handed a six-month prison sentence suspended for one year and fined €2,000 after pleading guilty to charges stemming from an altercation at a St Paul’s Bay restaurant, where he had demanded a free meal.

Frank Andre Pedersen, a Danish-born man who resides in Buġibba and is unemployed, was arraigned under arrest on Thursday following an incident at a restaurant in Triq Dawret il-Gżejjer on Wednesday afternoon.

The court heard that police were called to the restaurant at around 2:30pm on 14 October following reports of a man dressed in black arguing with employees after demanding to be given food free of charge.

Upon arriving at the scene, officers spotted a man matching the description walking out of the restaurant. He was stopped.

A restaurant employee told police that the man had entered the premises demanding a free meal but was informed that he could not be given food without authorisation from the owner.

The restaurant owner subsequently explained to police that the establishment had occasionally provided the accused with free food in the past. However, this did not mean that he was entitled to demand meals whenever he wished.

When officers approached Pedersen and requested that he produce his identity card or passport, the situation escalated.

Rather than cooperating, the accused began shouting and swearing at the officers, repeatedly telling them “fuck you” and “fuck off,” while refusing to hand over any identification documents.

He was subsequently arrested.

Pedersen faced seven charges, including insulting and threatening four police officers in the execution of their duties, disobeying lawful police orders, refusing to provide his personal details, and disturbing the public peace.

He was also charged with assaulting a restaurant employee without causing injury, as well as living a life of idleness and vagrancy.

During Thursday's arraignment, Pedersen pleaded guilty to the charges brought against him.

The court sentenced him to six months' imprisonment suspended for one year and imposed a €2,000 fine.

Police Inspector Warren Galea prosecuted, while legal aid lawyer Thomas Sant represented the accused.

Magistrate Antoine Agius Bonnici presided over the sitting.