A 56-year-old man had a fine cut from €1,300 to €23 after a judge decided the evidence produced by the police was “weak”.

Raymond Debono had been charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, refusing to undergo a breathalyser test and driving without switching on the headlights in December 2013.

He was found guilty of the first and third charges, fined €1,300 and had his driving licence suspended for six months.

Madam Justice Edwina Grima criticised the lack of scientific evidence produced. One witness – who was also involved in the traffic incident – testified that Mr Debono had trouble maintaining his balance and was slurring his speech but this was not corroborated by the police officers on site, who said the accused had a “slight smell of alcohol”.

A breathalyser test was not carried out because Mr Debono suffered grievous injuries and was unable to breathe into the machine.

The court therefore acquitted him of the first charge and fined him €23 for driving without the car’s headlights switched on.

Lawyers Jason Azzopardi and Kris Busietta appeared for Mr Debono.