Updated | Court denies bail to man who resisted arrest by diving into the sea

Turkish national Yilmaz Goktaz, 32 of Istanbul, was today denied bail after being accused of assaulting police officers.A magistrate decreed he was not in a stable mental state, as Goktaz entered the hall of magistrate Gabrielle Vella with his leg bandaged and passing senseless comments. Refusing the assistance of both a lawyer and interpreter, Goktaz claimed he understood English well and that he was due to leave Malta today.

However, Inspector Jonathan Ransley informed the court that the Turkish national was in fact staying in Malta until the end of September. The court was of the opinion that Goktaz was not in a mental state to be granted bail and appointed a psychiatrist to assess the accused's mental state and report back to the court. When Goktaz heard the court's decision he started rolling about on the dock's bench and acting irrationally.

Earlier yesterday, Goktaz threw himself into the sea in an attempt at escaping the police after resisting arrest and injuring a sergeant and constable in the process, in an incident police said occurred at around 8:30pm.

It all began when a teenager, Matthew Cremona, 18 of Msida, reported being followed by a man who at that moment also walked into the police station and sat idly on a bench there.

A sergeant walked over to the person indicated by the youth, who remained passive despite being questioned. He also remained idle when asked for his particulars.

"The foreigner was, therefore, informed of his arrest and cautioned accordingly. He however became hysterical when approached by two constables, throwing one of them to the ground with a well-aimed elbow thrust. He then threw himself against the police station's inner door, breaking its glass in the process, and fled through the jagged shards while wrestling the police," the police said in its statement.

The man then continued towards the shore where, upon seeing a constable in hot pursuit, he undressed and dived into Marsamxett Harbour, where he began swimming towards Manoel Island.

He was caught shortly after by the Armed Forces of Malta's Maritime Squadron.

The sergeant and constable and who were hurt while trying to arrest the man were taken to the Floriana Health Centre, where they were certified to have sustained slight injuries.