Three charged with trying to run over policemen

Two men and a woman who allegedly attempted to run over two police officers in Marsa were arraigned today over a string of charges related to the violent incident – although one of the passengers is insisting that he was manhandled. Michael Wubshet Bekele, 29, residing in Fgura, Teklesembet Yohannes Afewerki, 33, residing in Marsa and Helen Taddese, 25, Eritrean, residing in Rome and currently in Malta on a two-week holiday, were escorted to court to face multiple charges relating to the episode which unfolded yesterday at around 9.15am in Marsa. The prosecution, led by Inspector Elliott Magro, explained that two police officers on patrol in the area had spotted a two-seated van with four persons on board. One of the passengers was allegedly seated on the lap of another passenger. The officers attempted to flag down the driver who, however, appeared to ignore the signal and made to drive on. The officers eventually managed to block the driver’s path, forcing the vehicle to a halt. However, when one of the policemen walked up to the driver's side, the latter allegedly punched the officer in the face, smashing his specs in the process and slightly injuring him. Meanwhile, the...