A drug abuser, who was arrested for disturbing the peace in Sliema and kept complaining of stomach pains, refused treatment from the duty doctor at the Floriana polyclinic.

In his earlier testimony reported last week, Brian Mallia, 31 from Pieta’ alleged that the police had beaten him up while he was awaiting treatment at the polyclinic. He also admitted that he had escaped from the Detox Centre after this incident.

PC 233 Adrian Chetcuti described how the accused started complaining of stomach pains after he was arrested. Cross examined by defence counsel Dr Frank Cassar, PC Chetcuti admitted that the accused had asked the police to take him to Qormi and although this was not the usual procedure, they had complied just the same.

PC Chetcuti said that just before entering the cell at the Depot, Mallia began complaining of stomach pains and asked to be taken to hospital. The police then took him to the Floriana Polyclinic where he resisted the doctor on duty and refused to co-operate. At one point, the doctor gave the police a paper to take the accused to hospital, Chetcuti confirmed.

Dr Cassar asked if Mallia had been manhandled while being escorted to the police car but Chetcuti strongly denied this, adding that the police had just whisked the accused away without using force. PC Chetcuti also confirmed that the accused began saying that the police had beaten him up and again, resisted any attempts to be examined at the Emergency Department.

The case continues.