A British man who turned himself in to the police this morning to help them in cannabis related investigations has been remanded in custody after pleading not guilty to trafficking cannabis.
Terry Embleton, who disappeared from hospital two weeks ago, also pleaded not guilty to the possession of cannabis not for his personal use and to the possession of one ecstasy bill.
In submissions for bail, defence lawyer Rachael Tua pointed out that her client had turned himself in and that he had not been under police custody when he left hospital.
Moreover, he had had a drug problem since he was 13. This was why he had had to be taken to hospital because of chest pain.
Prison, she said, would only create more problems.
She asked for him to be granted bail and admitted to a drug rehabilitation programme.
Police inspector Dennis Theuma pointed out that Mr Embleton and his wife had nowhere to live, no property, were in a tight financial situation, they had no children and nothing to tie them to the island.
Although they lived in Malta since 2007, they had been planning to leave for good.
And although Mr Embleton was not under police custody when he left hospital, he knew that the police wanted to speak to him yet he disappeared for two weeks.
Magistrate Marseann Farrugia remanded Mr Embleton in custody because of the seriousness of the charges and fear of tampering with evidence.
She, however, recommended the director of prisons to take into consideration Mr Embleton's health condition and addiction.
See also:
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20111228/local/Drug-suspect-pledges-to-turn-himself-in.400041