A magistrate yesterday discharged a man from working without a permit after noting that the prosecution did not take the case seriously and treated it frivolously.

Nemanja Manojlovic, 23, from Serbia, was charged with acting as a security guard, or bouncer, as they are more commonly known, at Midnight Cowboy Bar in Paceville.

In his judgement, Magistrate Giovanni Grixti commented that although the prosecution team consisted of three Inspectors, only one of them took the witness stand to testify. Moreover, the man was charged following a raid on a bar on the night of 17 and 18 August but the prosecution charged him with working without a licence on 17 November instead.

“The court cannot possibly take such evidence seriously and is of the opinion that once faced with cases that are treated so frivolously by the prosecution, it should proceed with discharging the accused,” magistrate Grixti said in his judgement.

Police Inspectors Louise Calleja, Paul Vassallo and Therese Sciberras prosecuted while Dr Robert Abela appeared for the accused.