A 28-year-old man from Tarxien, Carl Ciantar, was this morning granted bail after pleading not guilty to threatening a prison officer at the Corradino Correctional Facility on Friday. 

The court heard how the man was being released from prison after having been handed a suspended sentence by a court. On his way out, he was told that he still had to pay a fine, for a previous case, and therefore could not be released. 

The fine, however, had already been paid by his mother. At this point, the court heard, Mr Ciantar lost his temper and started making the threats.

This morning, he was granted bail and was asked to sign the bail book in Paola three times a week. 

Magistrate Charmaine Galea presided over the case while Inspector Hubert Cini prosecuted.

Lawyers Franco Debono and Marion Camilleri were defence counsel.