Malian admits to injuring security guard during clash at refugee office

A 31-year-old Malian man was this morning handed a six-month imprisonment term suspended for a year after pleading guilty to injuring a police official during a clash at the Refugee Commission Office in Sliema.

Sakine Mamdou, 31, of Mali, who has no fixed address also pleaded guilty to injuring a police official, to slightly injuring security officer Patrick Micallef, to disobeying police orders and to breaching public peace.

The incident occurred on 25 August at around 11:30am when the accused wanted to speak to the Refugee Commissioner without having an appointment.

It is understood that upon being told that he cannot speak to the commissioner, the accused ran to the first floor. The security officer, Patrick Micallef, then went after the accused and escorted him down to the ground floor, after which he kicked and cracked an aluminium door.

The court heard that RIU officials were subsequently called in. Sources said that Mamdou became aggressive when the police officials tried to frisk search him. Sources said that the accused was subsequently arrested and a search yielded a flick knife.

The accused pleaded guilty to the charges and was handed a six-month imprisonment term for a year. Sakine Mamdou was also fined €800 and ordered not to approach the security officer.

Inspector Jason Francis Sultana prosecuted.