A 24-year-old woman broke down in tears and begged a magistrate not to send her to prison on Wednesday, after being denied bail over an alleged fight with police and security officers at Mater Dei Hospital.

"Please magistrate, please don't send me to prison," the visibly distressed woman pleaded after Magistrate Ingrid Bianco ordered that she be remanded in custody.

"I'm going to take a turn for the worse in there, not receive help," she told the court.

The magistrate sought to reassure the woman, telling her that her time in custody could serve as an opportunity for her to receive the assistance she needed.

Shanaia Taliana, an Qormi resident, who works as a salesperson, had earlier pleaded not guilty to a string of charges stemming from an incident at Mater Dei Hospital on Monday.

The court heard that the woman had gone to hospital after experiencing chest pain following cocaine consumption.

While receiving treatment, she allegedly wanted to leave the hospital to smoke a cigarette but was prevented from doing so by hospital staff.

An altercation subsequently broke out, prompting police officers to be called to the scene.

The prosecution said the woman became involved in a physical confrontation with two police officers and two security officers. All four allegedly suffered slight injuries during the incident.

She was subsequently arrested at around 9:50pm.

The woman was charged with disobeying and obstructing police officers in the exercise of their duties, insulting or threatening officers, disturbing the public peace by shouting and causing a disturbance, and uttering obscene language in public.

She was also charged with assaulting or violently resisting two police officers in the execution of their duties and slightly injuring two other people.

She pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Bail denied

The defence requested bail, but the prosecution objected.

Inspector Charlon Borg told the court while the prosecution sympathised with the accused, police officers were there for a reason and their authority had to be respected, particularly given that officers had allegedly been injured during the incident.

Legal aid lawyer Martina Herrera stressed the woman remained presumed innocent, telling the court that she had a stable job and fixed address and would abide by strict bail conditions.

The defence argued the court could also impose a protection order and treatment order if necessary.

Herrera further submitted the woman had apologised to the officers after realising what she had allegedly done, describing her as a young woman who supports herself.

The court, however, said it was not sufficiently reassured at this stage to release the woman on bail and ordered that she be remanded in custody.

It was upon hearing the decision that the woman became extremely emotional, crying loudly and repeatedly pleading with the magistrate not to send her to prison, "Please am I going to prison?... I didn't do it on purpose... please" she cried.

The court also issued a temporary supervision order.

The woman continued crying as she was escorted out of the courtroom.

Inspector Charlon Borg prosecuted.

Legal aid lawyer Martina Herrera represented the accused.

Magistrate Ingrid Bianco presided over the sitting.