The Libyan embassy said today that a man who gave evidence in court last week, purporting to be a Libyan diplomat, does not hold diplomatic status and has absolutely no connection with the embassy.

Tarek Ibrahim Alshlmani, 42, who suffers from serious medical problems, was last week accused of taking a sachet of heroin to prison while visiting a friend. The official had told the court that the Libyan embassy was prepared to post bail on his behalf. The court, however, had remanded the accused in custody.

The Libyan embassy in a statement this afternoon said it first got to know of the case through the Maltese media.

"In this regard, the Embassy of Libya declares that it never, whether directly or indirectly, offered to subsidise the payment of bail if it was granted to the accused by the competent court and furthermore, that it did not authorise anyone to make a statement on behalf of the Embassy of Libya to this effect during the arraignment of the suspect before the Magistrates' Court," the embassy said.

Regarding reports that the lodging of the accused in a hotel was paid for by the embassy, the embassy said this was not a special privilege in that the same treatment was given to many other Libyans.