Lawyer and Nationalist MP Franco Debono has filed an application in the Constitutional Court against the Minister of Justice, the Attorney General and the Commissioner of Police.

Dr Debono said his client Conrad Axisa had been arraigned under arrest and accused of drug trafficking and usury charges on August 5.

He had since then been remanded in custody because the police had not produced the principal witness to give testimony.

The case was continued yesterday, when the court decided that the principal witness was not a competent witness at that point in time and he could not testify because, according to procedure, criminal proceedings which were being taken against him first had to be completed.

It transpired that the proceedings against the witness had not been started yet, and the bail request for Mr Axisa was again denied. His case is due to resume on September 7.

Dr Debono said that according to law, the accused should be presented to court at least once every fortnight for the court to decide whether he should remain under arrest.

In being kept in remand, his client was effectively being held behind bars without a fair trial, Dr Debono said. This was a violation of human rights and he held the minister, the AG and the commissioner responsible for damages.