Gozitan arraigned after extradition

A Gozitan, Marcel Agius, 57 who was extradited from the UK earlier this week, was accused in court today of having conspired to import ecstasy into Malta on December 7, 2006.

Police Superintendent Norbert Ciappara told the court that this case involved the importation of more than 9,000 pills hidden in the frame of a mirror.

He said that another two men had already been arraigned in the case. One was convicted and another will be tried next Monday.

The two men would also testify in the case against Mr Agius, Supt Ciappara said. He therefore objected to bail.

Defence counsel Joseph Brincat said his client had first been told by British police about the extradition proceedings in February last year. He went to court, was held in custody was two days and then released on bail pending extradition.

The very fact that he was on bail for all that time and had always turned up in court showed he was trustworthy and should therefore be granted bail.

Magistrate Audrey Demicoli, however, turned down the bail request and remanded Mr Agius in custody.