Paceville fight lands four men in court

A court has conditionally discharged a Libyan man and released a group of three Bangladeshi men on bail after a fight between neighbours in a block of flats in Paceville late last night.

The accused were arraigned before Magistrate Carol Peralta in separate proceedings, earlier today.

Inspector Caroline Fabri charged Wadea al Maghrbi, 24 from Tripoli, with causing slight injury to Kazusa Fazlo during an accidental affray, inciting a group of people to violence, being in possession of a penknife without the requisite police permit and breaching the peace.

Al Maghrbi is alleged to have punched Fazlo, who is also the Bangladeshis' boss, during an argument in the common area, possibly breaking his nose.

At one point, the Libyan produced a penknife and in their efforts to disarm him, the Bangladeshi trio caused the penknife to cut his hand, resulting in the grievous bodily harm charge.

His lawyer, Christopher Chircop, entered a plea of guilty to all charges. The court handed down a two-year conditional discharge in his regard.

The three Bangladeshi men were next to appear in court. Inspector Caroline Fabri charged Mohammed Saiful Islam, 27, Sayed Mattubber, 23 and Hannan Abdul, 29 with grievously injuring Al Maghrbi, taking part in the accidental affray, provoking said affray for the purpose of committing a homicide or bodily harm on the Libyan and breaching the peace.

Lawyer Joe Giglio, appearing for the three men, pleaded not guilty. He told the court that the trio work in the kitchen of a popular Indian restaurant and live in the same building as Al Maghrbi. He explained that the men were defending their boss who had been assaulted by Al Maghrbi and who had to be hospitalised. 

The court granted the men bail against a deposit of €250 and personal guarantee of €750 each. No curfew was imposed, due to their line of work.