A Somali immigrant arraigned under arrest this afternoon pleaded in court today that he did not have a family and did not want to go to jail.

Jeylani Abdullahi Bando, 24, formerly residing at the Marsa Open Centre, was granted bail after pleading not guilty to slightly injuring another immigrant during an argument at the Ħal Far Tent Village.

The court, presided over by Magistrate Donatella Frendo Dimech, heard how last Sunday around noon, the accused had visited the village for lunch.

It was then that the argument broke out. The accused insisted in open court that the victim, accompanied by third parties, had turned upon him and attacked him. The accused said he retaliated to the aggression.

 “They attacked me,” pleaded the young man in strongly accented English, whilst wringing his hands.

The court, after ascertaining that the accused had a fixed residence, upheld his request for bail against a personal guarantee of €1,000. He was ordered to sign the bail book three times a week at the Mellieħa police station since he visited the village on a daily basis for work purposes.

The court warned the accused to steer clear of his alleged aggressor and to refrain from approaching any of the prosecution’s witnesses.

 “If I stay alone I will have peace” was the man's final reflection as he thanked the court, bowing respectfully as he left the courtroom.

Inspector Charlotte Curmi prosecuted. Lawyer Noel Bartolo was legal aid.