The main witness in a police bribery case yesterday earned himself a one-night stay in the court house lock-up after he repeatedly laughed and evaded questions put to him by a magistrate.

Jimmy Bonavia, from Żabbar, whose testimony was sketchy at the best of times, took to the witness stand in the case against Police Constable Ian Grech, 36, from Marsascala, who is pleading not guilty to accepting a €700 bribe last June.

Mr Bonavia’s nonchalant attitude towards testifying was exhibited right from the start of proceedings when he told Magistrate Doreen Clarke that he did not care about being jailed, after she warned him that he could ultimately be imprisoned if he incriminated himself on the witness stand.

He also failed to recognise the accused in the dock but had picked him out from photos and DVD footage at the headquarters when he was questioned over this case.

Unemployed and receiving benefits, Mr Bonavia said that he owned four or five cars and a tractor, the latter of which got him into trouble with the police.

One day he was driving out of his mother’s property with it when he was almost immediately stopped by a police officer, he said.

He recalled breaking down in tears and pleading with the officer to forgive him because he had no insurance cover for the vehicle.

But the officer was having none of it and told him that he should take the log book to the police headquarters.

He ignored the order but a few days later received a phone call from headquarters requesting that he show up with the log book immediately.

On arrival he met an officer wearing a florescent jacket and the two entered an office. Mr Bonavia asked the officer if they were alone to which the officer said that they could speak freely.

The witness said that he told the officer, “I’m a religious person and the Gospel states that it would be better to come to an agreement before going to court.”

The officer, according to Mr Bonavia, said “yes” and asked for €700.

The accused said he handed over €150 but the officer gave him €50 back. Mr Bonavia then left the building, went to withdraw a further €500 and gave it to the officer.

Some days later he received another phone call from the same police officer who requested another €200, he claimed.

Mr Bonavia’s brother, who works in England, heard the conversation and decided to take note of the serial numbers of the cash after consulting a friend of his who was a police sergeant.

During his testimony, Mr Bonavia chuckled at times and apologised for doing so, to the extent of laughing and evading questions under cross examination.

At this point Magistrate Clarke ordered his arrest and for him to kept at the court house lock-up to collect his thoughts and pull himself together before testifying again this morning at 9 a.m.