A man was this afternoon accused in court of assaulting a police officer who intervened to stop him from assaulting a prostitute.

The 26-year-old from Mogadishu was spotted by plain clothes policemen on patrol in Marsa yesterday evening arguing and fighting with a prostitute.

When confronted by the police, the Somali threw a glass bottle in the direction of police officer Lydon Zammit and then challenged him for a fight while holding a stone.The immigrant, who was drunk, tried to run away towards the Marsa open centre until he was cornered by the police and arrested.

He pleaded not guilty to the charges and Magistrate Aaron Bugeja refused the defence's plea for release from arrest. However, the court ordered the police to produce the female witness in the next sitting.

The prosecution was led by Inspector Melvyn Camilleri while legal aid lawyer Anthony Cutajar appeared for the Somali.

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