Updated - adds arraignment details
A Turkish man jumped into the sea in an attempt to escape the police after resisting arrest and injuring a sergeant and constable yesterday at about 8.30 p.m., the police said.
He was pulled out of the water by an AFM launch and was taken to court today.
It all began when an 18-year-old who lives in Msida called at Msida Police Station to report that he was being followed by a man who then also walked into the police station and sat idly on a bench there.
A sergeant walked over to him and asked him questions. The man remained passive despite being questioned. He also refused to give his particulars.
When warned that he was being arrested, he became hysterical. He pushed a constable to the ground with a well-aimed elbow thrust and hen threw himself against the police station’s inner door, breaking its glass in the process.
He fled through the jagged shards with the police running after him.
The man undressed quickly and dived into Marsamxett Harbour, where he began swimming towards Manoel Island.
He was caught shortly after by members of the Armed Forces of Malta’s Maritime Squadron.
The sergeant and constable and who were hurt while trying to arrest the man were taken to the Floriana Health Centre, where they were certified to have suffered slight injuries.
ARRAIGNMENT
The Turk, Yilmaz Goktaz, a 32-year-old petroleum engineer was taken to court this morning and accused of assaulting the policemen, threatening them, fleeing arrest, damaging the police station and stalking a man.
In court, he refused to be represented by a lawyer and refused to give some of his particulars. He pleaded not guilty. Police Inspector Jonathan Ramsay explained what had happened. He explained how the accused had broken window panes by head-butting them.
The accused also told the court that he was due to fly back to Turkey today, but the police said he was booked at a language school until next month.
Magistrate Gabriella Vella said the court had reservations on the psychological and psychiatric state of the accused. She remanded him in custody at Mt Carmel Hospital and appointed a psychiatrist to examine him and report within three weeks.