A 41-year-old man has been granted bail after being charged over a hit-and-run in Marsa which left a pedestrian grievously injured.

Justin Vella pleaded not guilty to 12 charges, including grievously injuring the pedestrian, speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, refusing a breathalyser test, committing a number of traffic violations and leaving the scene without assisting the victim.

The court heard that Vella allegedly ran a red light before hitting the 41-year-old Bangladeshi pedestrian on Triq Diċembru 13.

Prosecutors said eyewitnesses reported that the driver did not simply flee after the collision, but later returned to the scene.

He allegedly got out of the vehicle before getting back in and speeding away once again while police officers were already at the scene.

A medical team treated the pedestrian at the scene before he was taken by ambulance to Mater Dei Hospital, where his injuries were certified as grievous.

The incident occurred at around 10pm on 20 September. Police investigations, aided by recorded footage and eyewitness accounts, eventually led officers to a BMW parked in Marsaskala, where Vella was arrested. Police said the vehicle had lost a side mirror in the collision, which was recovered from the scene.

Vella was initially denied bail when he was arraigned before Magistrate Donatella Frendo Dimech, after the prosecution raised concerns over the nature of the alleged incident and the risk of evidence being tampered with while key witnesses had yet to testify.

However, on Wednesday morning, the case was heard before Judge Neville Camilleri in the Criminal Court, who granted Vella bail against a €5,000 deposit and a €10,000 personal guarantee.

He was also placed under a daily curfew and ordered to sign the police bail book every day.

Inspector Clive Abela prosecuted.

Lawyers Amadeus Cachia and Ishmael Psaila appeared for Vella, while lawyer Michele Cardinali represented the victim.

Judge Neville Camilleri presided over the Criminal Court.