Bar owner in court after refusing order to close

Two men allegedly threatened to get their own back on police officers who ordered a bar to close because it was open too late and with music on too loud.

Gilbert Dimech, owner of The Godfather Bar in Sta Venera, and Freddie Mansueto pleaded not guilty to threatening police officers and disobeying their orders on Thursday at about 1.20 a.m.

The bar had a licence to operate till 1 a.m. so the officers asked Mr Dimech to close and switch off the loud music. However, an argument broke out and verbal threats were allegedly made.

The two men, both aged 32, also pleaded not guilty to breaching the peace. Mr Dimech alone pleaded not guilty to failing to adhere to the times imposed in his bar licence and disturbing the neighbours with loud music. He also pleaded not guilty to relapsing.

Magistrate Antonio Micallef Trigona granted the two men bail against a personal guarantee of €5,000 each.