Shane Scicluna, 32 from Attard, was arraigned under arrest yesterday and accused of employing someone without a permit. At the hearing, defence attorney Dr Shazoo Ghaznavi contested the fact that his client had been arraigned under arrest.

The prosecuting inspector said this was a regular police procedure because the prime witness is being held by the Immigration Department and is awaiting deportation.

Dr Ghaznavi questioned why his client had been arrested and but not the principle licence holder. The inspector claimed she believed Mr Scicluna to be the manager of the bar in question.

The accused seemed restless and eager to leave the courtroom. “I do not want to come back to court,” he said and proceeded to plead guilty to the charge against him.

Presiding Magistrate Jacqueline Padovani Grima gave the man some time to consider his decision, explaining that a guilty plea was a serious matter and would mean a criminal record.

Considering that the accused had cooperated with police and had a clean record prior to this offence, he was fined Lm500, to be paid over six months.