Young woman, girl charged with injuring police

An alleged argument between police officers and a 21-year-old woman from Rabat landed her and another three people in court yesterday.

Bernice Formosa and a 15-year-old whose name cannot be published because she is a minor, were charged with resisting arrest, injuring and making false allegations against police officers from the Rabat police station.

Ms Formosa's uncle, 57-year-old Joseph Farrugia of Rabat and her boyfriend Daniel Spiteri, 24 of Mtarfa were arraigned on similar charges after they allegedly intervened on hearing that the two girls had been arrested.

The argument on Saturday is alleged to have started after Ms Formosa was approached by the police in connection with an investigation. It escalated into a scuffle and the arrest of the two girls.

The accused pleaded not guilty.

Defence lawyer Robert Montalto hinted that reports against the officers may be filed and requested that a medical expert be appointed to review the injuries sustained by the girls and Mr Spiteri.

Magistrate Joseph Apap Bologna appointed Dr Mario Scerri to assess the injuries sustained by both the accused and the police.

Inspector Mario Tonna argued against the release of the accused on bail before the witnesses were heard, pointing out that given the fact that they are relatives they could come up with an arranged version of the facts and could influence eyewitnesses.

Dr Montalto pointed out that the main witnesses were his clients. "Frankly it's the first such case I have been involved with where the prosecution is asking for a 15-year-old to be kept in prison," he said.

The magistrate granted all of them bail.