An unemployed man today was jailed for nine months for punching a traffic policeman who stopped him on suspicion of drug dealing.

Roderick Cilia, 37, of Żejtun, was also jailed a further four months and had a €2,300 personal guarantee confiscated after he was found guilty of breaching bail condition.

Cilia was stopped by traffic policeman Paul Falzon on 17 March, 2012, in Villambrosa Street, Ħamrun, after he saw him accepting money from another man, Andrew Bezzina.

He punched the officer and fled but was caught later.

Mr Cilia testified he was approached by a man who did not identify himself as a police officer, and that the man snatched his wallet and ran off.

But Magistrate Stafrace Zammit said the court did not believe this version of events. She therefore found him guilty of punching the officer in the face, assault, disobeying his orders, threatening him and relapsing.

Police Inspector Kevin Farrugia prosecuted.