Court refuses to entertain tourist's allegations of police beating

A tourist visiting Malta on a break from his studies in the UK has claimed to have been mistreated by police after reacting to racial abuse in Paceville last night.

Somali-born Suleyman Ahmed, 24, pleaded guilty to a string of public order offences, just so he could catch his flight home on Thursday after being denied bail by magistrate Antonio Micallef Trigona.

Ahmed had been refused entry to a club by bouncers, who then called the police. However, he claims that he had been “manhandled” by the officers before being taken to the police station for questioning and was later released. However, as he was being driven back to his hotel, he insulted an officer and was re-arrested and allegedly beaten.

Lawyer Leontine Calleja, appearing on Ahmed's behalf attempted to explain to the magistrate that her client was claiming to have been attacked by police because of his race, however the court refused to hear any “evidence on the merits”, saying that this was for another court to hear.

Prosecuting inspector Trevor Micallef objected to bail due to the risk that the accused would abscond, pointing out that Ahmed was due to be leaving on Thursday.

Calleja, undaunted by the court's repeated refusals to hear any of her submissions for bail, said that on account of one irresponsible comment, her client was surrounded and beaten by the officers. The magistrate was unmoved. “Can he offer guarantees? I can't risk it.”

“They were stupid remarks that he passed and now he has to face the consequences. I have him as an accused, [not the officers].”

Faced with the prospect of being remanded in custody until his case was appointed to be heard by a magistrate, the accused changed his plea to guilty. He was handed a six-month conditional discharge and an €800 fine