A driver who got a little hot under the collar and allegedly became aggressive with a policeman who was about to book him is claiming the officer passed racist comments in his regard.

Mohammed Hamdan, 32, residing in St Paul’s Bay, who works as a bus driver with Arriva, appeared in court yesterday assisted by defence lawyer Anġlu Farrugia.

Dr Farrugia said words such as żibel (rubbish) and ħmieġ (dirt) were used by the officer in an argument between the two at Ċirkewwa on Sunday afternoon. Such language provoked his client to act in the way he did, Dr Farrugia said, adding Mr Hamdan had been in Malta for about 20 years and was married.

Police Inspector Therese Sciberras told Magistrate Anthony Vella the prosecution had a different version of the events.

One of the number plates of Mr Hamdan’s private car was missing and instead there was a piece of cardboard with the number written on it. The accused informed the officer it had been that way for a week and the policeman told him he would book him, the prosecuting officer said.

The situation began to degenerate and the accused attacked the policeman and also resisted arrest. The incident was captured on CCTV cameras at the Gozo Channel terminal, Ms Sciberras noted.

Mr Hamdan pleaded not guilty to attacking and resisting the officer, swearing in public, disobeying orders, breaching the peace, refusing to give particulars to the police and breaching the conditions of a previous release.

The court granted him bail against a personal guarantee of €2,000.