The man who spent last night in the court house lock-up after he repeatedly laughed and evaded questions put to him by Magistrate Doreen Clarke yesterday this morning changed his version of events.

Jimmy Bonavia, from Żabbar, was testifying against Police Constable Ian Grech, 36, from Marsascala, who is pleading not guilty to accepting a €700 bribe last June.

PC Grech, who is currently suspended on half pay pending the case, is pleading not guilty to the charges.

He allegedly accepted the bribe for allegedly waiving procedures against Mr Bonavia, whom he had stopped for driving without a licence.

This morning Mr Bonavia told the court that PC Grech was not the person he had paid the bribe to.

However, he said he recognised the person on footage and photographs that were shown to him at the police depot when the case was being investigated.

At the end of the sitting, Magistrate Clarke said the transcripts of Mr Bonavia's testimony are sent to the Commissioner of Police for him to take the necessary legal steps against Mr Bonavia.

The case was deferred to next month.