A plasterer was denied bail after being arraigned in connection with a knife attack on a client in Ħamrun, following an argument over pending payments for work carried out. The accused, 24-year-old Tarek Meashi Ualid, a Syrian national holding a Bulgarian passport and identity card, appeared in court on Wednesday where he was charged with assaulting the alleged victim with a knife during a dispute about money he claimed he was owed. Ualid told the court that he had acted in self-defence, insisting that the incident arose from a disagreement over unpaid fees for plastering work he had completed for the client.
The prosecution objected to bail, citing the serious nature of the charges and the use of a weapon in the confrontation. After hearing submissions from both sides, the court ruled that the accused should be remanded in custody, refusing the defence request for release. The incident, which occurred in Ħamrun, has been described by authorities as stemming from a financial disagreement that escalated into violence, with the alleged victim sustaining injuries during the altercation.
The denial of bail means Ualid will remain in detention while police continue their investigation and the case proceeds through the judicial process. The court’s decision reflects concerns about public safety and the risk of reoffending, particularly given the circumstances involving a bladed weapon and the breakdown of a professional relationship between tradesman and client. Further hearings will determine the full facts of the case, including the defendant’s claim of self-defence and the extent of the injuries suffered by the complainant.
