Tesfazgi Habtom, a 21-year-old Eritrean, was charged in court with voluntarily causing damages to the fence which surrounds the Safi Detention Centre, where he is currently being held.

The man, assisted by Dr Mark Busuttil, pleaded not guilty to causing damage estimated at Lm173.82, and threatening a person with a hard object.

The court, presided over by magistrate Jacqueline Padovani, heard how the man was expected to leave the detention centre on 17 December. To this end the prosecutor, Police Inspector Joseph Agius, asked that the man should not be granted bail.

The magistrate ruled that man cannot currently be granted bail as he was under custody, and advised him to apply for bail after his release from detention.