“Who the f*** do you think you are?” a magistrate and a police inspector were told yesterday by a prison inmate who was giving evidence in a case concerning another prisoner.

“You can fine me all you want because I am not going to pay a cent of it. Whatever the amount, I will spend it in jail,” Sylvester James railed at Magistrate Aaron Bugeja in a prolonged outburst that earned him two fines for contempt of court.

Mr James was testifying in a case against fellow inmate Jason Decelis, who stands charged with assaulting a prison warder, insulting him and accusing him of committing a crime he knew did not take place.

Criminal action against Mr Decelis began after a magisterial inquiry concluded he had made a false claim against the correctional officer, alleging he had ordered him to urinate on his cell floor instead of using the toilet in an act of “bullying”.

Mr James testified yesterday that at no time did he see anyone hitting Mr Decelis and that all he heard was the correctional officer telling Mr Decelis to use another bathroom as the one he wanted to use was one used by officials.

His testimony was proceeding smoothly until he objected to questions by the inspector and the magistrate intended to clarify the facts. He interpreted the questions as attempts by the police and the court to confuse him and told them he would “not fall for your antics”.

“You’re not going to manage to confuse me,” he told the inspector and the magistrate before asking who they thought they were – in foul Maltese.

Magistrate Bugeja fined him €50, to which he said there was no way he would be paying up.

When Police Inspector Spridione Zammit warned him it was a magistrate he was speaking to, Mr James replied: “As if I care... and I am Il-Bomba”.

“Who the f*** do you think you are?” (Min iż-ż*** taħseb li int?), he told the inspector again.

The fine was immediately raised to €100.

Mr James then sneeringly told the magistrate: “Do you accept payment by cheque or do you prefer cash?”

Remaining calm, the magistrate ordered him out of his courtroom.

The inmate’s father – also a prisoner – was in court, with the word ‘Bomba’ tattooed on his forehead.

Mr Decelis is serving a 25-year-prison sentence for the murder by omission of 18-year-old Rachel Bowdler.

Ms Bowdler’s lifeless body was found in a field near Mġarr, on May 13, 2001. She was placed there after losing consciousness from a heroin overdose while she and Jason Decelis were in his mother’s flat in Buġibba.

The case continues.