Two arraigned over drug charges

A 17-year-old boy was yesterday charged with trafficking in ecstasy and, in a separate case, a 20-year-old was accused of the possession of the same drug with the intent to sell.

The St Paul's Bay teenager pleaded not guilty to trafficking in 100 ecstasy pills but admitted to the simple possession of ecstasy and cannabis resin and breaching a probation order on and before April 16.

Magistrate Anthony Vella said he was sorry and disappointed to see that the boy has been charged with committing crimes when he was on probation.

After hearing how the boy suffered from a serious addiction that clouded his judgement, the magistrate granted him bail against a personal guarantee of Lm2,000.

He also ordered that, pending the end of the case, the boy be placed under a provisional supervision order to combat his addiction. The 20-year-old, a Gozitan, pleaded not guilty to the possession of ecstasy in circumstances denoting it was not for his personal use on and before April 16.

He was granted bail against a personal guarantee of Lm1,000.

The name of the teenager is not being published because he is a minor. The court banned publication of the name of the 20-year-old for safety reasons.

Police Inspectors Pierre Grech and Dennis Theuma prosecuted.

Lawyer Peter Fenech represented the teenager and lawyer Michael Sciriha appeared for the Gozitan youth.