A man accused of trafficking ecstasy yesterday claimed his human rights were breached because he was charged five years after the crime was alleged to have happened.

Lizio Grech, through his lawyer Franco Debono, argued his right to a fair trial within a reasonable time had been breached.

This right had been imposed upon the State by the European Court of Human Rights.

Mr Grech made the arguments in a Constitutional application in which he is asking the court to declare that his human rights had been breached and to be given a remedy to the situation.

Mr Grech also argued that, when he was arrested on May 1, 2009, he was not accorded the right to a lawyer during investigations.

Quoting case law, Mr Grech said this right was unequivocal and was independent of other circumstances such the person’s vulnerability and character.

Lawyer Marion Camilleri also signed the application.