Labour Qormi councillor Daniel Ablett, 35, was granted bail after pleading guilty to several charges related to an incident involving a LESA officer in Valletta, while contesting the most serious accusation against him.

Earlier in the day, the Labour Party said in a statement that it was suspending Ablett – although they did not name him in their statement – from all party roles.

The prosecution, led by Inspectors Dylan Pace and Abigail Pomroy, told the court that at around 7:30pm on Sunday, 27 July, Valletta Police Station received a report from the Police Control Room that a LESA officer had been assaulted in the capital.

Police officers arrived at the scene and found Ablett arguing with the LESA official. After informing him that he was under arrest and reading him his rights, the accused allegedly also threatened one of the police officers, telling him he would kill him.

Following his arrest, Ablett gave a statement to the police before being arraigned in court. He was represented by lawyers Ishmael Psaila and Nicholas Cachia.

Ablett contested the first charge, which accuses him of using violence or resistance against a public officer, namely a LESA enforcement officer, while the officer was carrying out his official duties.

However, he admitted the remaining charges, which include threatening and insulting public officers, causing slight injuries to the LESA officer, threatening a police constable, refusing to obey lawful police orders,  disturbing the public peace, throwing bodily substances in a public place, and being intoxicated in a public area.                                                           

Due to his admission regarding the majority of the charges, the Court initially suspended the hearing of the case. However, at the request of the defence, the proceedings resumed to allow for the submission of a request for release from arrest.

The defence requested bail and argued that there was no risk of evidence being tampered with since the alleged victim is a public official. The prosecution objected, citing the seriousness of the offences and noting that the charges carry the possibility of an effective prison sentence.

After hearing submissions from both sides, the court granted Ablett bail under several conditions.

He was ordered not to leave Malta, to attend all court sittings, refrain from committing further offences, report daily to a police station, observe a curfew between 9:00pm and 6:00am, deposit €3,000, and provide a personal guarantee of €7,000.

At the prosecution's request, the court also issued protection orders in favour of both the LESA officer and the police officer involved in the case.

In a statement, the PL said that it is aware of the case, and decided to “with immediate effect and as a precautionary measure, suspend this councillor from representing the Labour Party in any structure, including in the Local Council.”

The PL offered scant details about the incident, and did not name Ablett as the councillor involved.

 Ablett was the party’s third most popular candidate in the 2024 local council elections in Qormi – where the PL holds a 7 to 4 seat advantage over the PN.

“While stressing that the individual remains presumed innocent, the Labour Party believes that public trust in the work being done by its representatives should be safeguarded,” the PL said.

It offered its full support to law enforcement officials and authorities, and their commitment to the performance of their duties with respect, integrity and proper use of authority.

The Party said that it will continue to follow the case and take any further decisions necessary in the light of the developments and resulting facts.