A 29-year-old man was yesterday charged with the possession of some 4.5 grams of heroin in circumstances denoting the drug was not for his personal use.

Magistrate Miriam Hayman heard Ludwig Bugeja, of Cospicua, plead not guilty to the possession of heroin with intent, the simple possession of the drug and relapsing on and before Friday.

Mr Bugeja's lawyer, Dr Chris Cardona, requested bail and argued that prison was not the best environment for his client, who was a drug addict. Police Inspector Dennis Theuma, prosecuting, objected to bail primarily because he was worried that if given no restraints Mr Bugeja would end up committing the same crime.

After hearing submissions by both parties Magistrate Hayman gave a ruling which, she explained, was intended so that the accused did not end up "six feet under".

She ruled that since, at this stage, bail may be premature, she appointed Supervising Officer at Sedqa Charles Miceli - who had been following Mr Bugeja's case - to present an assessment in court as soon as possible to establish whether it was appropriate for the accused to start a drug rehabilitation programme.

In a statement earlier in the day yesterday the police said the drug Squad found 28 sachets containing heroin hidden in the home of the parents of the accused in Il-Pellegrinagg Street, Corpicua.

The police said that the raid at the house was triggered by information indicating drug trafficking in the area.