A man was yesterday refused bail after pleading not guilty to threatening a man and spitting at him.

Khalid Ahmed Mohammad Ashtani, a 40-year-old Libyan national living in Birżebbuġa, appeared before Magistrate Joe Mifsud accused of threatening a Maltese man, causing him to fear that violence will be used against him, threatening him and spitting at him. He was also charged with failing to obey police orders. The incident happened on Wednesday.

Legal procurator Peter Paul Zammit contested the validity of the arrest but the prosecution explained that the man was arrested when the police ordered him to stay away from the other man but he disobeyed the order. 

Dr Zammit continued to insist that the arrest was unlawful and entered a not guilty plea. He requested bail for his client but Inspector Roderick Attard objected as he had already ignored the police and approached the alleged victim.

In 17 years in Malta, he has had no trouble with police, Dr Zammit argued but despite the pleas, Magistrate Mifsud turned down the request.

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