An Italian national who this morning was granted bail soon found himself handcuffed again and taken by the police as he claimed he had no money to pay the personal deposit.

Salvatore Claudio Agata, a 25-year-old Italian national who is currently residing in Rabat, appeared before magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera charged with threatening the police and resisting arrest. He also faced charges of breaching public peace and of damaging the policeman’s uniform.

Agata had originally been charged with refusing legitimate police orders in connection with a minor domestic incident which occurred back in April. The court heard how the police had received an anonymous call from a neighbour after hearing loud shouting.

Agata’s girlfriend, who was present in court, said that they were shouting because of a minor argument. When summoned, the accused failed to turn up to the police station and when called by the police, he said that it was up to him to see if he’d like to attend or not.

Inspector Elliott Magro explained that the police had to issue an arrest warrant which had to be executed yesterday. However, while at the police station in Rabat, the man resisted the police and tore the shirt of one of the police officers.

From the court’s bench, the accused kept insisting that he is not guilty and should not even be in police custody. “I did nothing wrong. No one tells me why I was arrested.”

Legal aid lawyer Martin Fenech said that the man is pleading not guilty to the charges brought against him saying that this was probably some misunderstanding as the accused was not told why he was being arrested. At this point, the police inspector got out the shirt which was torn during the incident. Inspector Magro objected to the request for bail arguing that the accused clearly has some issues with the local police force. The defence rebutted saying that Agata was only asking why he was being arrested.

The magistrate decided to uphold the request for bail and ordered the man to report at the Rabat police station every day and to pay a €1,000 deposit and a personal guarantee of €3,000. As soon as the magistrate left the hall and the secretary asked for the deposit, the man told the police that he did not have any money. “I don’t have to pay anything. I was not supposed to be arrested,” he said.

The police inspector told him that if he does not pay the deposit, he cannot leave freely and would be sent behind bars until the deposit is paid. Agata protested and approached the police officer and asked him how was he supposed to get a €1,000. “Where am I supposed to get the money from?” he said while pointing at his genitals.

Before the conversation escalated further, the inspector ordered the man to be put in handcuffs. Three police officers surrounded him and got him and his girlfriend out of the court hall. The man was thus held in custody until the deposit is paid.