Charged with police assault, drug possession

Soon after a 31-year-old Bugibba man was charged with assaulting police officers in Hamrun, he appeared in court again, this time to face drug-related charges.

In the first arraignment, James Abela was charged with threatening and assaulting a police sergeant and two constables and slightly injuring one of the constables, disobeying the police and with the illegal possession of a bullet at the Hamrun police station on Tuesday at about 8.45 a.m.

He was granted bail against a personal guarantee of Lm500.

Mr Abela remained in the dock... to answer to charges, in a separate arraignment, of being in possession of 18 grammes of heroin in circumstances denoting the drug was not for his personal use.

In this case he was denied bail which effectively means he will be detained in custody.

Mr Abela pleaded not guilty in both cases during which he was assisted by lawyer Michael Sciriha.

Police Inspector Mario Tonna prosecuted.