Suspect who absconded gets bail for second time

An alleged drug trafficker who escaped to Holland on his way to Thailand yesterday managed to secure bail for a second time.

Jeremy Ciantar, 41, from Sliema, stands charged together with two other men – Francis Bonnett, 68, also from Sliema, and Kevin Gatt, 36, from Birkirkara – of trafficking almost eight kilograms of cannabis resin in October 2008.

In 2008, Mr Ciantar was granted bail but the police began looking for him when they realised he had left the country using false documents. He was eventually tracked down to Holland where he was about to board a flight to Thailand. He was brought back to Malta last October and remanded in custody.

Lawyer Franco Debono secured bail again this week after the Attorney General issued a bill of indictment against Mr Ciantar.

Mr Justice Michael Mallia granted bail against a personal guarantee of €15,000 and a deposit of €15,000. A curfew was also ordered and Mr Ciantar will have to sign the bail book every day.