Stephen Ciangura, a soldier with the Armed Forces of Malta, was yesterday brought before the court for the second time in just over a week, this time charged with assaulting and threatening a policeman and an enforcement officer with the transport authority (ADT).

Before magistrate Jacqueline Padovani, Lance Bombardier Ciangura, 32, from Rabat, pleaded not guilty to slightly injuring ADT enforcement officer Franco Buttigieg. He allegedly assaulted Mr Buttigieg and police constable Sergio Schiavone on Thursday afternoon.

He was further charged with breaching the peace, disobeying police orders, and committing an offence he was duty bound to avoid in his capacity as AFM officer.

The soldier was denied bail against a personal guarantee of E5,000. Police inspector Robert Vella prosecuted, while lawyers Emmanuel Mallia and Arthur Azzopardi appeared for the accused. Meanwhile, he faces separate charges over an incident at Gianpula nightclub on 15 August. He was brought before the court on 1 October, accused of seriously injuring a man who had urinated against a bar during a party at the club. That night, Lance Bombardier Ciangura had been working as a bouncer. The court had heard that the victim, Rene Brincat, reported that the bouncer had kicked him in the face, breaking his jawbone. He had also sustained injuries all over his body.