Claudio Overend, 19 of Swieqi, today pleaded not guilty when he was arraigned before a magistrate and accused of slightly injuring Police Inspector Pierre Grech and PC John Farrugia.

The incident allegedly happened on Thursday evening.

He also denied threatening the officers, disobeying police orders and swearing in public.

Defence counsel José Herrera and Veronique Dalli said the incident happened as Mr Overend, who was with his girlfriend, was parking his car in Sliema.

As they stopped and were about to park, the policemen in the car behind them told them to get out of the way.

He told them to wait till he parked and the officers got out of the car and told him not to be rude to the police.

Dr Herrera said Mr Overend was pushed by the officers, beaten and arrested. His request to see a doctor was denied.

Police Inspector Anne Marie Micallef, prosecuting, said this version was not the truth but the allegations of being beaten by the police were being investigated. She said Mr Overend never asked to see a doctor and refused an offer by the police to be visited by a doctor from the Floriana Health Centre.The police eventually called the doctor anyway.

Mr Overend was granted bail against a personal guarantee of €1,000.