A Briton on holiday in Malta was given a suspended sentence and fined €4,000 after he admitted trying to bribe a police officer who tried to restrain him outside a Paceville club with a €50 note.

Michael Jones, 27, also admitted of reviling and threatening police officers and disobeying their orders.

The man was arraigned before Magistrate Josette Demicoli together with Christopher Saliba, 27, who has a French passport but lives in St Paul’s Bay where he works as a bartender.

Mr Saliba, however, pleaded not guilty to reviling, threatening and disobeying the police. He was granted bail against a deposit of €1,000 and a personal guarantee of €7,000.

The court heard that the incident happened when the two men, who were both drunk, started hurling insults to the police soon after being chucked out of a club in Paceville on Monday at about 1.15am. They added that a commotion ensued and that the Briton took out a €50 note and offered it to an officer, inviting him to leave the area.

Mr Jones was given a two-year prison term suspended for four years and slapped with a €4,000 fine. Police inspector Trevor Micallef prosecuted.

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