An undercover police officer was punched by a man he had seen stealing a mobile phone from a handbag in a Paceville night club, a magistrate heard yesterday.

Mugzazi Khaled, 28, from Msida, denied the theft of a Samsung mobile phone in the early hours of Sunday.

Magistrate Natasha Galea Sciberras heard police inspector Elton Taliana explain that the man was seen stealing the mobile phone by an undercover police officer at 3am on Sunday. When the constable approached him and identified himself as a police officer, Mr Khaled punched him and escaped. He was still arrested. The officer was slightly injured.

Mr Khaled pleaded not guilty to the theft, to slightly injuring the officer and damaging his clothes, and to resisting the police.

He did not request bail and was remanded in custody.

Lawyer Abigail Bugeja was defence counsel.

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