Man out on three bails caught with crack in hotel room, court told
Ian Zammit allegedly committed the offence within 100 metres of a centre where people gather for social purposes
A 36-year-old with a long criminal history was remanded in custody on Friday after pleading not guilty to possession of cocaine.
Ian Zammit, a 36-year-old Żejtun resident who is unemployed, was charged with aggravated drug possession of cocaine in circumstances that denoted that it was not for personal use. He was also charged with committing the offence within 100 metres of a centre where people gather for social purposes.
He is also accused of breaching three previous bail conditions, the most recent one handed to him in May 2025 by Magistrate Caroline Farrugia Frendo.
The court heard how he was arrested after police first arrested another person who was with Zammit, and a search was conducted in a room of a hotel in St Julian’s in the early hours of March 19.
Police found ‘white substance’ on Zammit and in the hotel room. Police inspector Kelsey Bugeja explained how around 41 grams of the alleged crack cocaine were found.
Zammit pleaded not guilty.
Defence lawyers Franco Debono and Marion Camilleri did not request bail during the hearing.
Magistrate Tanya Sammut presided.
AG lawyer Nadia Ciappara prosecuted, with police inspector Kelsey Bugeja.
Zammit has a long criminal history, including breaching bail orders, drug trafficking and assault.
In May 2025, he was charged with drug dealing, a day after his apartment was searched and small sachets containing white powder were found in his Tarxien flat.
In 2024, he managed to escape from a police station window. He was quickly apprehended and detained once again following a tussle with officers. The previous year, he was remanded in custody after he hit a man in the face with a pistol.