The two owners of an illegal scrapyard alleged to have assaulted enforcement officers there to clear material yesterday were remanded in custody this afternoon.

Jonathan Bonnett, 22 and Kurt Bonett, 20, from Zejtun - who are related to the proprietor of the Ta' Harbat scrapyard in Birzebbuga - were arraigned before magistrate Joe Mifsud.

Prosecuting officer Colin Sheldon told the court that planning authority officers were yesterday taking direct action at the illegal scrapyard. One of the accused locked himself in a mechanical shovel, yelling: "leave my cars", the inspector said.

He had also grabbed a stone and threatened the officers with it. His brother tried to stick up for him and was consequently arrested.

Jonathan Bonnett was charged with threatening and assaulting public service officials, attempted slight bodily harm, damaging a policeman's top, smashing a police officer's mobile phone screen and damaging another police officer's camera.

The younger of the two accused men was charged with resisting arrest.

Both men pleaded not guilty.

The court said that enforcement officials should be allowed to carry out direct actions without any impediments and therefore turned down the request for bail.

Lawyers Franco Debono and David Camilleri were defence counsel.

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