A man on a night out in Paceville on Wednesday ended up in court on Friday after getting into an argument with the police in an incident sparked by his disregard of a smoking ban. 

Mishel Nacev, a 27-year-old Macedonian national living at St Julian’s, was drinking at a bar and smoking in an area that was clearly marked as no-smoking. 

An argument broke out when the patron was asked to leave and matters got worse when the man, apparently under the influence of alcohol, was asked to give his personal details to a policewoman patrolling the zone. The man was arrested.

He was on Friday charged with insulting and threatening the officer, assaulting her and refusing to obey legitimate orders. He was further charged with breaching a no-smoking ban.

The accused pleaded guilty.

After hearing submissions by both parties, the court, presided over by magistrate Doreen Clarke, declared him guilty on his own admission and fined him €800, as well as a further €250 for violating the no-smoking ban.

Inspector Joseph Xerri prosecuted. Lawyer Charmaine Cherrett was legal aid counsel.

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