Updated | Youth remanded in custody after car chase

Sean Zammit, 21, from Birkirkara, pleaded not guilty to injuring and assaulting police officers, driving with a suspended licence and breaching bail conditions.

Zammit was arrested last night after the police fired warning shots. Magistrate Claire Stafrace Zammit heard how a police officer noticed the youth driving a silver-blue Mercedes near San Anton Gardens, in violation of a court ban. The officer ordered the youth to stop. He sped off towards Attard with the police in pursuit.

The chase, at times against the flow of traffic, went through  Rabat, Zebbug, Attard, Mtarfa and Ta' Qali. Other cars were damaged as the man tried to evade the police by taking to the pavement.

When driving through Zebbug a second time, the car skidded and was blocked by police vehicles. Zammit reversed onto the police officers who fired warning shots. An officer was slightly injured as he jumped out of harm's way. The accused insulted and assaulted the police as they arrested him.

Zammit has a number of pending criminal cases and another court recently granted him bail and suspended his driving license.

Lawyer Marion Camilleri requested bail claiming the charges look big on paper but are not serious offenses. The accused was only breaching bail conditions due to the police chase.

The police objected to bail arguing the chase lasted only 20 minutes and ended at 10.30 pm. The accused cannot be outside his residence after 9 pm.

Furthermore his reason for leaving the house was to give fuel to an unlicensed and uninsured vehicle when his driving license was suspended.

Magistrate Stafrace Zammit stated the accused is not trustworthy and remanded him in custody.

Inspectors Anthony Cachia and Joseph Agius prosecuted.