A man has filed a Constitutional case claiming that the police breached his fundamental rights when he was under arrest at the Sliema police station where conditions were “inhumane and degrading”.

Ivan Zammit who owns a shop in Sliema, also claimed that the police used excessive force against him when he refused to present his identity card. 

The incident happened on September 22 in Sliema, in front of his shop.

Addressing a news conference outside the law courts, lawyer Etienne Calleja said his client had been dumped in the police van “like a sack of potatoes” and suffered slight injuries. The police had been called on the scene following a report of a verbal argument.

Asked why his client had refused to present his document, the lawyer said  Mr Zammit had given the requested information verbally. “Though the police verified on their radio that this information was correct they insisted he should hand the, his ID card” Dr Calleja said.

He  complained that the police exerted excessive force against his client and that  eight RIU officers manhandled him at one point. Dr Calleja said police sergeant Ramon Mifsud from the Sliema station acted violently and intimidated all those present at his client’s shop when he slammed several objects and damaged furniture.

Once at the police station, Sergeant Mifsud turned on the shop owner and described himself as “a mad person” the lawyer said.

Dr Calleja added that his client was held in a small, unventilated cell, with no water. Mr Zammit was released after three hours, after he (Dr Calleja) phoned Sgt Mifsud from abroad.

Mr Zammit also filed a criminal complaint, urging the police commissioner to open an investigation over this incident.

A separate complaint with the Internal Affairs Unit of the police was filed on September 26.