A Nigerian who is to be deported next month has been fined €800 and given a nine-month jail term suspended for three years after he admitted to head butting a police officer yesterday afternoon.
Joy Inofe, 33, admitted to slightly injuring a sergeant major while violently resisting police efforts. The police wanted to transport him to the Safi detention centre.
He was also charged with attacking the three officers who were escorting him, insulting them, disobeying police orders and breaching the peace.
Mr Inofe stood up unprompted in court and apologised for his actions saying he had been hungry.
Sources said Mr Inofe had just been informed that his application for asylum had been refused and he was being deported.
Patrick Valentino was legal aid while Inspector Daryl Borg prosecuted.
The sergeant major, who sustained facial injuries, was treated at the Floriana health centre.