Man who ‘bit policeman,’ a financial adviser, claims he was beaten up during arrest

A man who was charged with drink driving and with slightly injuring a police officer this afternoon claimed in court that he had been beaten by the police. David-John Calleja, 30, from Ta'Xbiex, pleaded not guilty to 17 charges which include disobeying police orders, driving when drunk and failing to give the police his details. But the police charges were overshadowed by allegations that the man, a senior financial adviser, was beaten up by the police during his arrest. Lawyer Robert Abela exhibited a medical certificate saying that his client had suffered a broken nose and also claimed that his client told the police about this but the investigating officer refused to include this detail in the official statement. He asked Magistrate Marse-Ann Farrugia to appoint a court expert to photograph the police car where his client is said to have been elbowed in the nose. However,  Police Inspector Jason Sultana said the car had been washed. The inspector objected when the defence exhibited Mr Calleja’s blood-stained clothes but withdrew the objection when the defence lawyer accused the prosecution of trying to cover up a crime. “You already destroyed evidence by cleaning the car. Do...