A prisoner protested to a Magistrate this morning after he was fined €100 despite having apologised for slandering a prisons officer.

Paschalino Cefai has been accused of slandering prison officer Ramon Theuma .

The case happened on December 20 in the prisons.

Mr Cefai told Magistrate Aaron Bugeja that the whole issue stemmed from a misunderstanding. He had dropped two Panadol tablets on the floor and then thrown them away.

He was then told by correctional officer Theuma that in terms of regulations, he should have returned the Panadols to the nurse and not thrown them away.

Mr Cefai replied "What are you telling me this, have you forgotten, what took place in your time?" The statement was made in the presence of another prisons official.

Mr Cefai said he was very sorry and did not wish to offend anyone. His outburst was the result of frustration at having been locked up for three years and he had a wife and two children.

Mr Theuma said he was offended by what was said because it was said in a very aggressive manner. Furthermore, he did not know what Mr Cefai was implying. However he accepted his apology and was willing to renounce further criminal action.

Magistrate Aaron Bugeja said the court had noted the apology. He fined Mr Cefai €100 saying that the punishment went up a a grade because the accused was a prisoner and the case happened in the prisons.

At this point Mr Cefai protested, saying these €100 were being denied to a three-year-old child.

He was then ushered away by escorting officers.