An Egyptian man, who is being held at the Ħal Safi Detention Centre, stripped naked in the presence of detention officers because he was refused a tin of corned beef. Such tins are not allowed at the centre because they can be used as a weapon.
Mahmud Ahmed was arraigned in Court and charged with stripping naked and threatening the officers. He pleaded not guilty, and was remanded in custody.
Lawyer Martin Fenech, who was appearing as legal aid for the accused, said no one had been hurt, and that the man is no criminal. Prosecuting Inspector Trevor Micallef said that when the accused had fled his country six years ago and came to Malta, he spent the past five years in and out of prison.
The inspector told the court that accused had compiled a list of items he needed, but when officers informed him they could not purchase the corned beef, he reacted aggressively, threatened them and stripped naked.
