A drug addict who was this afternoon granted bail instead of being remanded in custody asked the court to allow him to sign the bail book in the afternoon so he could "sleep in".

The unusual request came from an unemployed drug addict and repeat offender, Roderick Cilia, 37, from Senglea, who was arraigned under arrest after he was caught in possession of cocaine and heroin during a roadblock on Tuesday evening.

He was also charged with assaulting police constable Nathan Bugeja who stopped him.

The request brought a smile to presiding Magistrate Francesco Depasquale, who instead of signing the bail book between 9am and 12pm three times a week, gave him until 7pm to sign "so you can sleep in and wake up energised after a long sleep".

Police Inspector Nikolai Sant prosecuted while lawyer Albert Zerafa was defence counsel.

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