A suicidal Somali man yes-terday pleaded insanity when he appeared in court charged with slightly injuring a policeman.

The 27-year-old, an inmate at Mount Carmel Hospital, walked into the Marsa police station at about 5.30 p.m. on Wednesday, grabbed a chair, held it in the air and told the officers present he did not like the police.

He then assaulted a policeman, slightly injuring him, sources said.

He stands charged with attempted serious injury, slightly injuring an officer and threatening and resisting the police.

Defence lawyer Frank Cassar said he had followed his client’s case closely for the last year and-a half, adding the accused had tried to commit suicide four times.

Dr Cassar said the accused was on leave from the hospital when the incident happened and because of this he was pleading insanity.

Magistrate Joseph Apap Bologna appointed three psychiatrists to draw up an evaluation report on the accused.

The case continues.

Police Inspector Kevin Farrugia prosecuted.