Bar owner accused of assaulting local councillor, aged 77

A bar owner was yesterday charged with assaulting a 77-year-old Birzebbuga local councillor in the morning.

Noel Falzon, 36, of Birzebbuga pleaded not guilty to threatening and assaulting councillor Antonio Roberts at the local council offices at about 10.45 a.m.

He was also charged with disobeying the police, causing damage to the local council offices, relapsing and committing a crime during the operative period of a suspended jail term.

Police Inspector Johann Fenech, prosecuting, explained that the incident broke out after Mr Falzon was granted a permit to extend the pavement outside his bar.

When he heard that the local council appealed over the granting of the permit, the bar owner went to the local council offices and threatened Mr Roberts, even slamming a table in front of him.

Magistrate Silvio Meli, presiding over the arraignment, granted Mr Falzon bail against a Lm400 deposit and a personal guarantee of Lm2,000.

He also issued a protection order binding Mr Falzon not to approach the councillor for three years.

Lawyers Shazoo Ghaznavi and Joseph Giglio were defence counsel.

Lawyer Joseph Mifsud represented Mr Roberts.