A man who allegedly kicked up a racket and tried to escape police as he was about to be deported to Tunisia was remanded in custody on Tuesday after pleading not guilty to charges.

Tunisian-born Mahdi Ouerfelli, 28, had been detained at the Safi Detention Centre and was about to be put on a plane back to Tunisia in the early hours of Monday when he allegedly tried to escape from police arrest.

Police say he violently resisted arrest, bit an officer and threatened to bring down the aircraft if he was deported.

Mr Ouerfelli was arraigned in court on Tuesday, where he pleaded not guilty to multiple charges stemming from the airport incident including violently resisting arrest, breaching the public peace, placing the aircraft and passengers in danger as well as refusing to obey the captain’s orders on board. He was also charged with recidivism.

He pleaded not guilty and his lawyer, legal aid counsel Ishmael Psaila, did not make a request for bail at this stage.

Duty magistrate Caroline Farrugia Frendo remanded him in custody.

Inspector Lara Butters prosecuted.

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