The spiritual leader of a French sect and his girlfriend yesterday faced extradition proceedings after they were arrested at their house in Naxxar when the police had to use pepper spray.

Alan Schmitt, 49, had a European arrest warrant issued against him after he allegedly escaped from judicial custody following a conviction for kidnapping and being an accomplice in a group that committed a crime.

The extradition proceedings took three hours yesterday because the court had to wait for Mr Schmitt to receive treatment for acute diabetes after he felt sick moments before he was brought to court.

During the proceedings against Mr Schmitt's girlfriend, Laurence Liegeois, 42, defence lawyer Emmy Bezzina said the police had used tear gas when they burst into their house on Wednesday morning, which they shared with seven other people, and had beaten his clients during arrest.

This was fiercely denied by the head of the International Division at the Attorney General's Office, lawyer Donatella Frendo Dimech, who said the police used pepper spray, not tear gas, because the couple had seven dogs.

In France, Mr Schmitt had been convicted of several incidents of psychological and physical abuse. In one such incident, he had forced a man to lie down and eat dog food after extorting money from him, Dr Frendo Dimech alleged.

At this point, Dr Bezzina said Mr Schmitt had been held for two months in a Parisian jail where he almost died because of his acute diabetes, which has practically blinded him.

Dr Frendo Dimech rebutted that, despite his illness, Mr Schmitt still managed to escape custody in France and make it all the way to Malta and remain hidden for two years.

Police Inspector Mario Cuschieri testified that living with the couple were another seven people and two minors, besides seven dogs.

In pleas on bail, Dr Bezzina argued that Mr Schmitt was very ill and required constant medical attention. His girlfriend and co-accused, Ms Liegeois, was a nurse and took care of him, the defence lawyer said.

Dr Frendo Dimech said both accused were not trustworthy because they had both escaped from France and that if they wanted to leave the island without the necessary travel documents they could do so easily.

Magistrate Claire Stafrace Zammit remanded both of them in custody pending the next sitting on January 21.

Lawyer Elaine Rizzo from the Attorney General's Office also formed part of the prosecution team.