A Mali immigrant was accused of assaulting three police officers at the Qormi Arriva bus station after he adamantly refused to buy another ticket as the one he had was expired.

Kasim Silla, 27, who lives at the Ħal Far tent village, pleaded not guilty to resisting and assaulting the officers, slightly injuring them and damaging their uniforms. He also pleaded not guilty to disobeying their orders and verbally threatening them, breaching the peace and using vulgar language in public.

The incident reportedly occurred yesterday at about 11.30 a.m. when Mr Silla tried to catch a bus using an expired week ticket and both the bus driver and a ticket inspector pointed it out. Mr Silla refused to buy another ticket but remained on the bus, sources said. The bus driver called the police and, when they arrived, Mr Silla allegedly disobeyed their orders and an argument ensued.

Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera refused to grant him bail and remanded him in preventive custody.

Police Inspector Sandra Zammit prosecuted.