Richard Spiteri, 39, from Valletta, who is commonly referred to as Raquela, was yesterday granted bail by Magistrate Joseph Apap Bologna after he was charged with loitering with the intent of prostitution and threatening four police officers on Tuesday.

Prosecuting Police Inspector Graziella Muscat said four police officers noted the accused appearing to solicit for prostitution on Tuesday night in Marsa in a street near the abattoir. When they approached Mr Spiteri and warned him against prostitution, the accused lost his temper, and started hurling verbal abuse at the police officers, telling them to mind their own business.

When Mr Spiteri refused to calm down, Inspector Muscat said the police took him to the Marsa police station and while he was locked up in a cell, he threw a packet of cigarettes, which contained a syringe, in their direction.

Representing the accused was defence lawyer Charmaine Cherrett, who told the magistrate to take into consideration that the accused is a reformed man trying to change his life and is still undergoing treatment for drug addiction at the detox centre at St Luke’s Hospital.

Magistrate Apap Bologna granted the accused bail against a personal guarantee of €500 and on the condition that he doesn’t approach the localities of Marsa and Gzira, two areas which are heavily linked with prostitution, at any time in the future.