A Nigerian national, Okenyehike Kelvin Obianke, was on Tuesday denied bail after pleading not guilty before a Malaysian magistrates’ court to biting off part of a police officer’s ear during an arrest in Kuala Lumpur.

The 38-year-old private college student is accused of causing grievous hurt to Corporal Danielrul Azraq Ahmad Khair, 36, of the Sentul district police mobile patrol unit, in front of a private clinic in Metro Prima, Kepong, on April 25 at about 10.10 am.

Obianke, who appeared in court without legal representation, insisted the incident was not deliberate.

“I am not guilty,” he said when the charge under Section 325 of the Penal Code was read to him. If convicted, he faces up to seven years in prison and a fine.

According to Kuala Lumpur Police Chief Datuk Rusdi Mohd Isa, the corporal lost a portion of his left ear after being bitten by the suspect during an aggressive outburst. The officer had responded to a distress call about a foreign man behaving erratically at the clinic.

Sentul district police chief, Assistant Commissioner Ahmad Sukarno Mohd Zahari, confirmed that the detached part of the ear has yet to be reattached due to a possible infection.

“The doctor at Kuala Lumpur Hospital will reassess the injury before deciding on surgery,” he said.

In a separate court, Obianke also denied charges of drug consumption and failing to present valid travel documents. These offences reportedly occurred on April 25 and 26 under Malaysia’s Immigration and Dangerous Drugs Acts.

Bail was denied and the court scheduled June 10 for further mention and the appointment of legal counsel.