Man jailed for punching police sergeant

A man who punched a police sergeant and tore his shirt while he was handcuffed has been sent to four months and two weeks in jail.

The sentence was handed down by the Court of Criminal Appeal against Raymond Rotin in connection with an incident which occurred in Victoria, Gozo, in October 2006.

Mr Rotin had initially been found guilty by the first court and fined €1,000 but the Attorney General filed an appeal.

M Rotin denied that the episode took place but both courts said they believed the police version of events and the evidence they had produced.

The court was told that Mr Rotin was in a car which was stopped by the police. They suspected that the accused was taking drugs. When he was asked to get out of the car, he refused, and the police therefore had to open the door, pull him out and handcuff him.

While handcuffed, he punched a police sergeant with both hands and then pulled and tore his shirt.

The Appeals Court revoked the fine and instead jailed Mr Rotin after also noting previous convictions.