A man this afternoon pleaded not guilty to charges that he injured two police officers who tried to stop him on Saturday afternoon.

Justin James Grima, 24, of Tarxien is facing 12 charges including that he injured two officers by running them over with his car, causing damage to a police vehicle, did not obey legitimate police orders and breaching the peace.

The incident took place in St Joseph High Road Hamrun at 3.20pm.

The court, presided by Magistrate Simone Grech, heard Inspector Pierre Guido Saliba testifying that while on patrol, a traffic police sergeant noted a car with all its windows tinted, with the driver not being seen inside. He told the driver to put down the window and follow him to the police garage.

The accused refused to obey the officer and escaped, with the police giving chase and catching up with him in Hamrun later. The officer ordered the accused to switch off the engine and tried to take out the key from the ignition.

A police constable arrived on the scene on a motorbike, which he parked in front of the accused’s car. The accused grabbed the sergeant’s arm, pulling it against the car while starting to drive away. At this point the accused said “my cousin ran over one of you, I will not mind running over two’.

He drove away, hitting the police motorbike. But the police caught up with him against and arrested him.

Defence lawyers Amadeus Cachia and Franco Debono requested bail for the accused, with prosucuting officer Matthew Galea objecting. The request was denied.