Accused insists on bail even if he is a foreigner

A Somali who had been held under preventative arrest for two months yesterday applied for bail, insisting that his request should not be denied just because he is a foreigner.

Salem Hassan Suleiman was charged on December 2 with trafficking in cannabis in Paceville. He is claiming that he was asleep at the Marsa open centre when the alleged incident is supposed to have occurred.

His arrest came after another drug user made an affidavit saying he had bought drugs from Mr Suleiman.

Defence lawyer Joe Mifsud said he had asked for bail several times over the past two months but the requests were always turned down on the basis that his client had escaped from his country and so he might also abscond from Malta. Dr Mifsud insisted that the fact that his client lived at the open centre should not have any bearing on the decision on whether or not to grant bail.

He referred to comments made by the prosecution in previous proceedings that the accused "did not live in a five-star hotel" and that his true identity was unknown. The lawyer pointed out that his client had refugee status and even an ID card.

Referring to the comments made by the United Nations delegation that was in Malta last week to report on the detention centres, Dr Mifsud said people who were undergoing criminal proceedings should be treated the same as Maltese citizens.

His client was a refugee in Malta because of the dire situation in Somalia and was ready to abide by any rules and conditions set down by the court, Dr Mifsud said.