A 32-year-old man was yesterday charged with seriously injuring another man when he hit him on the head with a truncheon at a Marsascala bar.

The incident took place on Monday evening at Summer Bar in St Thomas Bay.

Gerald Callus, a plumber from Cospicua, was accused of causing serious injury to Mario Barbara, 31, of Marsascala, and threatening him, as well as breaching the peace and threatening a bar customer.

In pleas on bail, lawyer Michael Sciriha said his client was being continually harassed by Mr Barbara who kept interfering in the relationship his client had with the mother of his (MrCallus’s) children.

It was this, he said, which spurred the argument, although violence was never justified.

Police Inspector Robert Said Sarrea said he was afraid the accused would tamper with evidence.

Magistrate Anthony Vella granted Mr Callus bail against a personal guarantee of €5,000 and placed Mr Barbara under a protection order.