A 28-year-old Libyan man living in Msida today denied assaulting and injuring a police constable, who caught him stealing a mobile phone near Paceville on Sunday morning.

The undercover police constable caught Mugzazi Khaled stealing the mobile phone from a woman's handbag inside a nightclub.

As soon as the constable identified himself, the man panicked and punched the police officer.

The officer was certified to have suffered slight injuries.

The accused did not request bail.

Magistrate Natasha Galea Sciberras presided and Inspector Elton Taliana prosecuted.

Lawyer Abigail Bugeja appeared for the accused.