Man wanted by police charged with seriously injuring inspector

A 44-year-old man, who was wanted by the police, was charged with seriously injuring a police inspector while resisting arrest in Sliema on Monday morning.

Joseph Cini pleaded not guilty to injuring Inspector Jeffrey Cilia when he tried to arrest him after allegedly breaching bail conditions. He also pleaded not guilty to escaping from police custody while in hospital on September 5.

Magistrate Giovanni Grixti heard Mr Cini pleaded not guilty to slightly injuring a police constable, threatening and resisting police officers, damaging their uniforms and disobeying police orders.

The court heard that Mr Cini had also allegedly insulted Miriam Bouvet and her father Carmelo Gerada and threatened to use violence against someone they knew and committing a crime within the operative period of a suspended sentence. Police Inspector Anthony Portelli strongly opposed defence lawyer's Richard Sladden request for bail.

Mr Portelli informed the court that Mr Cini was wanted in connection with several crimes but had managed to remain in hiding. Furthermore, Mr Cilia had to be operated as a result of the injuries sustained.

Inspector Portelli said that once Mr Cini has no fixed address, he could not be trusted to stick to bail conditions, adding that, having been granted bail in the past on condition that he signed at the Msida police station, Mr Cini failed to do so over the past year.

The court remanded Mr Cini in custody.

Police Inspectors Silvio Valletta and Anthony Portelli prosecuted.

Lawyer Richard Sladden app-eared as legal aid to Mr Cini.