A 24-year-old man from Paola was yesterday remanded in custody after he pleaded not guilty to a number of charges including attempted theft, reckless driving and slightly injuring a man.

Jeffrey Pulis was charged, before magistrate Joseph Apap Bologna, of attempting to steal money from a machine at a petrol station in Tarxien on 7 April between 2.45am and 3.30am and causing up to Lm500 worth of damage to the detriment of Michael Azzopardi from Marsaxlokk. Mr Pulis also pleaded not guilty to driving recklessly and overspeeding.

Prosecuting inspector Jesmond Borg also charged Mr Pulis with slightly injuring Lewis Briffa with a knife on 7 April at around 10pm in the Madonna ta’ Lourdes band club in Paola.

He was charged with insulting and verbally threatening Mr Briffa, using vulgar language in public and breaching public peace.

Furthermore, Mr Pulis was also charged with carrying a knife without a licence issued by the police commissioner.

Mr Pulis also pleaded not guilty to verbally threatening Mr Briffa on 7 April at 11.30pm in Fra Antoine De Paule band club in Paola. Insp. Borg told the court that on 7 April, Mr Pulis sought out Mr Briffa to threaten him over “unfinished business” and, to make matters worse, lives just opposite the alleged victim.

As a result, magistrate Apap Bologna remanded Mr Pulis in preventive custody and ordered the prosecution to summon its main witnesses at the next court hearing.

Police inspector Jesmond Borg prosecuted and Dr Jose Herrera appeared for Pulis.