Abukar Osman Hassan, 29, from Somalia, was accused in court today with having set fire to offices at Hal Far Open Centre, causing more than €1,000 worth of damage, swearing in public and disobeying police orders.
He told Magistrate Giovanni Grixti during the arraignment that being “white or yellow” in Malta was great but being black was terrible and that he might as well shoot himself. He also expressed his fears about being kept behind bars while this case was heard.
Magistrate Grixti sent a recommendation to the prison authorities for Mr Hassan to be taken to the forensic unit within the Mount Carmel Hospital.
Police Inspectors Kevin Pulis and Priscilla Caruana prosecuted while legal aid lawyer Simon Micallef Stafrace appeared for the accused.