Suspect claims police beat him up in a cell

A Syrian man yesterday claimed in court that he had been beaten up by the police while being held in a cell.

Waid Mahmoud Dawe, 46, stood in the dock looking worse for wear and with a cut across his nose as he was charged with threatening officers and violently resisting arrest on Saturday night in St Julians.

He claimed that policemen beat him while in the lock-up on the night he was arrested.

Police Inspector Luke Bonello testified that Mr Dawe was arrested and taken to the St Julians station after he had an argument with the police.

He said he received calls from the station throughout the night telling him the accused was being aggressive inside his cell and that he had been injured when he charged a hard surface.

Mr Dawe was taken to a polyclinic and then to Mount Carmel Hospital, from where he was transported to court.

In pleas on bail, the officer said the accused had already been conditionally discharged twice for other crimes and appeared to suffer from psychiatric problems if he did not take his medication.

Defence lawyer Leslie Cuschieri said the charges were minor including one of theft that his client vehemently denied.

Magistrate Audrey Demicoli remanded him in custody.