The Police Commissioner was today ordered to investigate allegations of excessive use of force by two policemen against a man who provided false identity details after being arrested for dangerous driving.

Magistrate Aaron Bugeja called on Commissioner Michael Cassar to investigate officers Mark Tonna and David Camilleri, after they allegedly threw Jean Paul Aquilina to the ground, forcefully restrained him and also punched him in the face, while arresting him for dangerous driving.

The allegations of excessive use of force by the police were made when Mr Aquilina was arraigned and accused of dangerous driving, failing to obey police orders and assaulting police officers.

Appearing for Mr Aquilina, defence lawyer Mario de Marco said his client was pulled over by the police at 1am near Mgarr. Mr Aquilina got out of his car and cooperated with the two officers, however, an altercation ensued between the three after Mr Aquilina initially provided incorrect ID card details, he said.

Mr Aquilina was taken to the Floriana health centre and later to Mater Dei Hospital for tests and medical treatment, before spending what was left of the night in police custody.

The police told the court that the two officers had also suffered minor injuries.

Photographs were taken of the injuries suffered by Mr Aquilina and the officers.  

Asked why an inquiry had not been ordered straight away, Inspector Roderick Vella said the two officers had finished their shift and were entitled to go home and rest.

Dr de Marco, however, questioned why the inquiry had been put off, and why Mr Aquilina had not himself been allowed to rest. He argued that his client had spent the night being being taken from the Floriana clinic to hospital and later being processed by the police.

The inspector replied this was the standard procedure. 

Mr Aquilina was granted bail and the case will continue pending the police commissioner’s inquiry.