A Palestinian immigrant was taken to the mental health hospital instead of given medical treatment after a fire at the Safi detention centre, the court heard yesterday.

Magdi Mohammed Ismail, from Sliema, was told by the authorities at the centre that he “was not normal” and spent five days at Mount Carmel Hospital following the fire on June 15, 2010.

The fire was started by his room-mate, Avadi Madur, who is pleading not guilty to arson after allegedly setting mattresses alight in an apparent suicide attempt.

Mr Ismail said he was in the room with three other friends when an argument broke out and Mr Madur set the mattresses alight.

Mr Madur refused to leave despite the fire. The rest left as thick black smoke engulfed room number three in C-block, Mr Ismail said.

Mr Madur was eventually rescued and Mr Ismail could recall him being helped by an ambulance crew and wearing an oxygen mask.

When Police Inspector Priscilla Caruana asked whether he was given any medical treatment, Mr Ismail said he was taken to Mount Carmel Hospital and told he was not normal. He added that he had no idea why he was taken there.

Captain Mark Anthony Borg, of the Armed Forces of Malta, testified that it was his colleague, Sergeant Mark Anthony Dimech, who ran into the burning building and saved Mr Madur.

In separate proceedings, 44-year-old Sgt Dimech, from Gżira, stands charged, together with Gunner Clive Cuschieri, 29, of Paola, with murdering illegal immigrant Mamdou Kamara, 32, in June.

Capt. Borg said the room where the immigrants lived contained a television set, fridges and metal furniture. Some eight mattresses were destroyed and the walls of the room were covered in black soot, he added.

The case continues.