An appeal’s court today acquitted Noel Caruana, 30, of drug possession, a crime for which he had been jailed six months and fined €466.

In his judgement, Mr Justice Antonio Mizzi noted that the case happened in 2003 and the accused was arraigned in 2011.

He said that the police had searched the man and found six pills on him which they assumed to be ecstasy.

The judge said one would have expected the pills to be analysed to see what they were. But they had not even been exhibited in court.

Lawyer Roberto Montalto appeared for Mr Caruana.