A 64-year-old man from Żebbuġ today pleaded not guilty to violently resisting arrest and refusing to obey the police when they asked him to stop smoking inside the Mqabba PN club.

Michael Farrugia was also charged, before Magistrate Marseann Farrugia, with threatening the police, being drunk in public, using vulgar language, breaching public peace and being a repeat offender.

Prosecuting officer Melvyn Farrugia told the court that police had received a call at around 4pm in which they were asked to control the noise levels emanating from the Nationalist club in Mqabba.

Once at the club, the police spotted the accused smoking a cigarette indoors. The accused had been drinking since 10.30am, the inspector noted, and once the police drew his attention to the fact that he was smoking indoors, an argument erupted. His misdemeanor continued even when he was taken to the police station.

Insp. Farrugia objected to bail being granted, pointing out that there were civilian witnesses yet to testify.

Lawyer Edward Gatt argued that the major witnesses were police officers - the only civilian witness was the barman.

"Such cases are generally heard before a district court... It is obtuse to keep someone arrested for such contraventions.”

Bail was granted against a €6,000 personal guarantee secured by the accused's daughter.