Two policemen will be investigated after it was alleged they used excessive force when a man gave them incorrect information about his particulars.

Magistrate Aaron Bugeja ordered Police Commissioner Michael Cassar to investigate officers Mark Tonna and David Camilleri after Jean Paul Aquilina alleged that they had thrown him to the ground, forcefully restrained him and punched him in the face when he was arrested for dangerous driving early yesterday morning.

The magistrate gave the order when Mr Aquilina appeared before him, charged with dangerous driving and assaulting the two RIU officers.

Defence lawyer Mario de Marco said his client had been pulled over by the police at 1am in the limits of Mġarr and was manhandled by the two officers.

He said Mr Aquilina had willingly exited his vehicle and cooperated with the policemen, but an altercation ensued and the officers assaulted him.

Standing in the courtroom wearing the same tracksuit he had been arrested in, Mr Aquilina pointed to a small gash and swelling around his left eye and blood on his shirt.

Dr de Marco said his client was taken to the Floriana health centre and later to Mater Dei Hospital for tests and medical treatment before spending what was left of the night in police custody.

Police Inspector Roderick Vella, prosecuting, told the court the officers had sustained minor injuries during the incident. He said an internal police inquiry had not been ordered into the allegations immediately after the incident but an assistant police commissioner had been informed about it.

Photographs had been taken of the injuries sustained by all the parties according to standard procedure, he said.

Asked why an internal investigation had not been ordered straight away, the prosecutor told the court the two officers had finished their shift and were entitled to go home and rest.

Dr de Marco wondered why the investigation had not started immediately and why Mr Aquilina had not been allowed to rest.

He said his client had spent the night being driven from the health clinic to the hospital and later being processed by the police. The prosecuting officer said this was standard procedure.

Dr de Marco also noted that his client had been examined by medical staff after the two officers were seen to and not at the same time.

Mr Aquilina was granted bail.