A woman has been fined €4,000 for slightly injuring two police officers in an argument at the Msida police station.
Maria Farrugia, whose age and place of residence cannot be published by order of the court, was arrested after a disturbance at the Msida police station, when she had gone together with her partner to accompany a third party who had been called in for questioning.
After being asked to wait outside as the case did not concern her, the woman had assaulted two police officers, one of whom was female. The male officer suffered scratches to his neck, whilst the female officer received a blow above her eye. Both were certified as having suffered slight injuries.
Farrugia was charged with assaulting police officers, violently resisting arrest, slightly injuring the officers, failing to obey legitimate orders, insulting and threatening police officers, using obscene language in public and breaching the peace.
Defence lawyer Alfred Abela asked to be allowed to approach the bench, where the representatives of the parties proceeded to discuss the case out of earshot of the public.
Shortly afterwards, he informed the court that the accused was pleading guilty to the charges.
Police inspector Lara Butters, prosecuting, told the court that the accused had collaborated with the police investigation into the incident and that the injuries suffered by the victims were minimal in nature.
In view of her collaboration and early admission, the fact that Farrugia had no criminal record and the minimal injuries, magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera fined the woman €4,000, allowing her to pay the fine in monthly instalments of €120 per month, warning that one missed payment would render the entire amount immediately due.