Convicted drug trafficker Mario Camilleri, known as L-Imnieħru, was yesterday charged with assaulting four police officers but claimed it was he who was attacked by officers at the St Julians police station when he went to report one of their colleagues.

Mr Camilleri, 46, of Swieqi pleaded not guilty to threatening and assaulting a police sergeant and three constables, slightly injuring a constable and causing some damage at the St Julians police station yesterday at 9 a.m.

He was also charged with disobeying the police and breaching the peace.

Mr Camilleri's lawyer Joseph Brincat made a request for bail arguing that the incident was triggered by comments allegedly made by a police officer to Mr Camilleri's children. These comments caused family problems and Mr Camilleri went to the police station to file a report about this particular officer.

Once there, Dr Brincat said, his client was offended and ill-treated by the police at the station who even kicked him. He asked the court to appoint an expert to record Mr Camilleri's injuries and pointed out wounds on his face and leg.

Police Inspector Trevor Micallef, prosecuting, confirmed that Mr Camilleri had gone to the station to report an officer. However, he said, he was arrested because of his aggressive attitude and he even broke a frame.

Magistrate Giovanni Grixti denied the request for bail but ordered that Mr Camilleri's wounds be photographed.

Lawyers Joseph Brincat and Roberto Montalto appeared for Mr Camilleri.