A 42-year-old unemployed man from Fgura named Emanuel Grech pleaded not guilty to charges linked to an alleged domestic violence case involving his mother, who told police she had become afraid to return to her own home.

Prosecuting Inspector Sharona Buhagiar told the court that the case began after the accused's mother filed a domestic violence report and informed police that her son had a drug problem.

The woman was described as being in tears as she recounted how she had begun fearing going back home. She alleged that her son would demand money from her on a daily basis and would damage items in the house whenever she refused to give him money.

According to the prosecution, Grech would also threaten and insult his mother.

The court also heard that on one occasion, the woman went to withdraw her pension but was informed by the bank that there was no money left in her account. She subsequently discovered that her pension had allegedly been withdrawn in full.

The situation reportedly deteriorated to the point that the woman left her residence and moved in with her other daughter.

Inspector Buhagiar explained that an arrest warrant was issued, but when police went to apprehend the accused they became aware of concerns relating to his condition, including a possible risk to his own life.

Rather than arresting him at that stage, police took him to hospital for medical assistance and he was subsequently admitted to Mount Carmel Hospital.

The prosecution said Grech was arrested after being discharged on Monday at around 10am.

The defence contested the circumstances surrounding the arrest, with an exchange developing in court over whether the accused had already been arrested before being taken to hospital.

The prosecution insisted that Grech had not been under arrest at the time, maintaining that officers had gone to him and instead taken him to hospital to receive medical assistance.

The accused himself intervened during the proceedings, confirming the prosecution's version on this point.

"No, I wasn't arrested. They took me to hospital," he told the court.

A defence lawyer meanwhile pointed out that he had not yet had sufficient time to speak to his client and establish all the facts surrounding the case.

Grech pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The defence requested that Grech undergo a mental health assessment while in prison.

No request for bail was made at this stage.