Updated 12.10pm, adds arraignment

A man taken into police custody on Saturday was released on bail upon his arraignment on Sunday after pleading not guilty to drug-related charges.

Lyon Bonnici, a 31-year-old Valletta resident, out on bail since February 2019, landed back under police custody on Saturday following a tip-off that led to a police search and the discovery of drugs in the man’s possession. 

Police were alerted about the suspicious behaviour of a man at a St Julian’s hotel.

Officers from the Drug Squad carrying out a search in one of the rooms came across a pouch containing some 21 sachets of cocaine, weighing a total of some nine grams, together with some other drug-filled sachets and €2,000 in cash. 

The search proceeded at the suspect’s Valletta home where police came across more drug sachets and drug-related paraphernalia. 

The man was charged with aggravated possession of cocaine and cannabis under circumstances indicating that the drugs were not exclusively for his own use.

He was further charged with breaching previous bail conditions as well as relapsing. 

Defence lawyers Franco Debono and Marion Camilleri requested bail, arguing that the charges did not contemplate drug trafficking and that, moreover, the accused was to be afforded the chance to reform.

Prosecuting Inspector Alfredo Mangion strongly objected, pointing out that the accused had already been granted bail previously and was a relapser. 

After hearing submissions by both parties the court, presided over by magistrate Natasha Galea Sciberras, upheld the defence’s request, granting bail against a deposit of €500, a personal guarantee of €4,500, an order to sign the bail book three times weekly and to abide by a curfew between 8.30pm and 7.30am.

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