A man who has been on the wanted list since he escaped from police custody on July 30 escaped again on Tuesday and jumped into the sea to prevent his arrest, the court heard this afternoon.
Andrea Busuttil, 27, from Sliema, pleaded not guilty to escaping from police custody on July 30, when the police went to his house armed with a search warrant over his alleged involvement in a robbery.
But while the search was under way, Mr Busuttil escaped and could not be found. He was spotted again on Tuesday evening but when he realised he was surrounded by the police, he escaped again. After a long run, he jumped into the sea at Manoel Island.
Police Inspector Kurt Zahra, who was chasing Mr Busuttil, jumped into the sea, and Mr Busuttil was arrested, despite his resistance.
Before Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera, Mr Busuttil was charged with escaping from custody, assaulting and resisting Inspector Zahra, slightly injuring him, disobeying police orders, breaching the conditions of a previous release and relapsing.
Defence lawyer Jason Azzopardi told the court he was not requesting bail at this stage. He, however, asked the court for his client to be held at the Forensic Ward at Mount Carmel Hospital, in view of his acute drug addiction and psychiatric problems he had and for which he was already receiving treatment.
Magistrate Scerri Herrera said the court could only make the recommendation and it was up to the prison authorities whether to follow it up or not. She also appointed a psychiatrist to assess Mr Busuttil's condition.
Police Inspectors Saviour Baldacchino and John Spiteri prosecuted.
Independent journalism costs money. Support Times of Malta for the price of a coffee.
Support Us