Jonathan Cauchi, 21 from Pietà, pleaded not guilty of trying to commit arson, damaging property, driving recklessly, disobeying police orders and relapsing in view of previous convictions.

Sources close to the investigation said Cauchi had thrown petrol at the door of the apartment in question, which happened to be in the same housing estate where he himself lived. The accused was caught with matches in his hand, according to the sources.

In his request for bail, defence counsel Dr Josè Herrera said Cauchi became “very drunk” that day while celebrating the election result. “The incident came about from a joke on the result,” he said, and the accused had no personal grudge against the family living in the apartment.

Dr Herrera said no one was hurt in the alleged

incident and Cauchi had cooperated with the police by giving an account of what happened in two statements.

Prosecuting inspector Anglu Caruana objected to Cauchi being released on bail because he lives very close to the apartment he tried to set on fire. Mr Caruana told the court, presided over by Magistrate Miriam Hayman, that by trying to set fire to the door of an apartment, Cauchi had endangered the lives of all those who were in the block of flats at the time.

The magistrate granted the accused bail but placed him under strict house arrest against a Lm5,000 personal guarantee. She warned him he could not leave his house except to go to court when notified and in a medical emergency. The accused was also ordered not to speak to any witnesses due to testify in the proceedings.

Inspectors Anglu Caruana and Mario Bonello prosecuted, Dr Josè Herrera and Dr Roberto Montalto appeared for the defence and Dr Malcolm Mifsud appeared in parte civile.