Libyan national conditionally discharged

A Libyan man has been conditionally discharged for a year for assaulting and threatening police officers and escaping from custody on Thursday

Mahmud Musbah, 28, pleaded not guilty to assaulting and threatening police officers in George Borg Olivier Street in St Julian's and again at the St Julian's police station between 6 a.m. and 7.45 a.m.

He also pleaded not guilty to escaping from custody at the police station, keeping and carrying a penknife without a licence and being in Malta without leave from the immigration authorities.

Musbah yesterday swore he was innocent and said he was a good person and never carried a penknife. He also claimed his passport was in order and that it was at his friend's Sliema apartment.

Magistrate Antonio Mizzi ordered police to take him to the apartment to get the passport but when they arrived back to court, about an hour later, they said that they found no passport there.

When he heard that the passport had not been retrieved, Magisrate Mizzi moved to pass judgment.

Musbah will be deported.

Police Inspectors Mario Tonna, Sandro Zarb and Martin Sammut prosecuted.