A Greek sailor was arraigned in court accused of injuring a police officer who was looking for him following a report that the man was drunk in public.

35-year-old Eleftherios Sklavos admitted that on Sunday 5 June, at around 7:30pm, he threatened a police officer. The incident occurred in Republic Street, Valletta. Two officers approached the man as a police report showed that he had disturbed the public while being drunk in a restaurant.

He confessed that he slightly injured sergeant Brendan John Borg and of threatening him and constable Robert Saliba.

The man appeared before Magistrate Ian Farrugia and was condemned to a suspended sentence of six months in prison. He was also ordered to pay a fine of €4,000 which has to be paid by the end of the week so that he can leave Malta aboard the Blue Galaxy which is set to leave Palumbo Shipyard on Friday.

Magistrate Farrugia warned that attacking a police officer was unacceptable behaviour. Inspector Daryl Borg prosecuted while lawyer Abigail Bugeja defended the accused.