A man has been remanded in custody after pleading not guilty to a string of 15 charges involving the alleged harassment and threatening of his former partner, as well as breaches of a protection order and bail conditions.

The Albanian national, who resides in Marsaskala and works in construction, pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against him.

The court heard that the police Domestic Violence Unit had received three reports from the accused's former partner, with whom he has an 11-month-old child. A danger assessment carried out in connection with the reports classified the situation as high risk.

The accused had previously been arraigned on 5 April and granted bail, with a protection order also issued in favour of his former partner. Under the conditions imposed by the court, communication with the woman was restricted to matters concerning their child.

However, the prosecution told the court that three further reports were subsequently filed against him in less than five weeks.

The reports allegedly involved repeated insults and threats, with the prosecution maintaining that communication between the former couple had gone beyond simply discussing their child.

In one alleged incident, the accused asked to see his son in a threatening manner. He is also accused of spitting in his former partner's face and kicking the passenger door of a vehicle.

The charges also concern repeated calls and electronic communications allegedly made to the woman.

The man is accused of harassing his former partner and causing her to fear that violence would be used against her or her property. He is also charged with breaching the protection order issued in April, threatening or insulting her and making improper use of electronic communications.

Separate charges relate to incidents allegedly occurring in Marsaskala on 27 August and 28 September.

In relation to the August incident, the accused is charged with disturbing the public peace and threatening his former partner with stones or other hard objects, which he allegedly threw towards her vehicle.

He is also accused of disturbing the public peace during the September incident and of throwing filth at the woman.

The prosecution further alleged that the accused had failed to sign his bail book for around four months.

The court was told that police had instructed him on several occasions to attend the police station or Domestic Violence Hub, but that he allegedly failed to comply.

Police eventually located and arrested him on 5 October. The court heard that he allegedly resisted officers, refused to wear handcuffs and shouted during his arrest.

The accused also refused legal assistance when questioned by police and allegedly threw a declaration relating to legal representation onto the floor rather than signing it.

His sister had also suggested a lawyer who could represent him, but he refused.

The man maintained this position during Wednesday's arraignment, initially telling the court that he did not want to be legally represented because he did not trust anyone to represent him and wanted additional time to find a lawyer.

The court explained that the arraignment had to proceed in accordance with procedure. Legal aid lawyer Martina Herrera represented him during the sitting.

The prosecution also charged the man with breaching the bail conditions imposed in April by allegedly committing further voluntary offences while on bail.

It requested that, in the event of a conviction, his bail be revoked and the €4,000 personal guarantee imposed by the court be forfeited in favour of the government.

Bail denied

A request for bail was made during the sitting.

The prosecution objected, arguing that important witnesses had yet to testify and expressing concern that the accused could not be trusted to observe further bail conditions.

It pointed in particular to his alleged failure to sign the bail book for four months and argued that an existing protection order had allegedly been breached three times in less than five weeks.

The defence stressed the accused remained presumed innocent and had his own version of events.

It argued that he lived separately from the alleged victim, had a stable job and could be subjected to stringent bail conditions and a protection order.

The accused also addressed the court himself, claiming that his former partner spoke to him in the same manner that he spoke to her and arguing that it was unfair that only he was facing prosecution.

After considering the nature of the accusations and the submissions made by the parties, the court denied bail and remanded the accused in custody.

The prosecution was led by Inspector Audrey Micallef. The accused was represented by legal aid lawyer Martina Herrera.

Magistrate Ingrid Bianco presided over the sitting.